News from Via Pacifica Imports and their Portfolio of New Zealand Wineries

BIRD WINES HAVE ARRIVED

WINES FOR NOVEMBER

Huia 2006 Sauvignon Blanc
Huia 2006 Pinot Gris
Lake Chalice 2006 Riesling
Lake Chalice 2006 Sauvignon Blanc
Lawson's Dry Hills 2006 Sauvignon Blanc
Lawson's Dry Hills 2006 Pinot Gris

News

2006 Vintage

Vintage 2006 bigger and better (31 May 06)

As international demand for New Zealand wine continues to climb, grape growers and wine makers have welcomed the 2006 grape harvest of 185,000 tonnes.

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said the 2006 grape harvest is in line with expectations and has produced a high quality vintage.

“This is good news for the New Zealand wine industry as we have unfulfilled demand for our premium wine in most export markets,” he said.

The vintage is a new record for the industry, up 11 per cent on the previous mark of 166,000 tonnes set in 2004, according to results from the New Zealand Winegrowers 2006 Vintage Survey. This growth is a result of the 18 per cent increase in producing vineyard area developed over the same timeframe. The 2005 vintage was down, at 142,000 tonnes, due to cool weather during the critical flowering period.

“Grape growers and wine makers are pleased with the vintage. The size and quality of the harvest is due to good summer and autumn weather which meant grapes were picked when they were at their best,” said Gregan.

“Despite the increased harvest, demand continues to outstrip supply for quality New Zealand wine in our key markets such as the USA, UK and Australia. Increased wine volumes are however also needed to grow sales in new countries such as Ireland where sales are up 55 per cent this year.”

“Sauvignon Blanc, our major export style, continues to grow in popularity as it is a good match with many of the foods and lifestyles of our customers around the globe.”

Currently around 55 per cent of New Zealand’s production is exported and Gregan said the 2006 vintage will help lift exports from around 60 million litres in 2006 to over 75 million litres forecast for 2007.

New Zealand a wine world leader world with Sustainable Winegrowing initiative

New Zealand has long been famed for its stunning unspoiled landscape. New Zealand's small population, isolated location and agricultural economy have earned the country a "clean, green" image. New Zealand grape growers and winemakers aim to keep it that way by protecting the environmental integrity of their wine production. To this end a pioneering set of industry standards have been developed, known as Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ). SWNZ provides the framework for companies to continually work towards improving all aspects of their performance in terms of environmental, social and economic sustainability in both the vineyard and the winery.

Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand was established by volunteer grapegrowers in August 1995 as an industry initiative directed through New Zealand Winegrowers. SWNZ was commercially introduced in 1997 and has been adopted by growers from all the grape growing regions. The introduction of a winery scorecard in 2002 has been a significant development, which further substantiates the industry claim "New Zealand Wine, the riches of a clean green land".

From Via Pacifica Imports ...

Special Report: New Zealand Pinot Noir

Twenty years ago, Pinot Noir from New Zealand wasn’t even a blip on the international radar. Today, it is on the verge of greatness.

WELLINGTON - The mood at the international conference, Pinot Noir 2004, in late January was decidedly upbeat. Hundreds of wine trade, media, and consumers gathered here to celebrate, taste, and discuss Pinot Noirs from around the world, with a clear emphasis on those of the home country, which saw more than 100 of its Pinot Noir-producers participate.

There was good reason for optimism: New Zealand Pinot Noirs not only have improved dramatically in recent years, but also are being produced more abundantly: acreage has jumped to 7,700 acres in 2004, up from 272 in 1986. (By comparison, Australia has three times as much planted, the USA about 4.5 times, and France 9 times the Pinot Noir acreage, although about 1/3 of that is used for sparkling wines).

Pinot Noir is now the country’s leading red wine variety cultivated, and third overall, behind Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Exports of Pinot Noir are also increasing: the USA imported 36,399 cases of it in 2003, up 34% from 2002. As more New Zealand Pinot Noirs arrive on USA shores, a large percentage of them will be sold in restaurants, where Pinot Noir as a category has been surging (we estimate that it has doubled in volume in the past 7 years).