The New Zealand wine industry is celebrating 30 years of its sustainability certification scheme, Sustainable Winegrowing NZ. The independently audited programme has underpinned the sector’s reputation for premium wines, helping exports reach $2.1 billion annually.
New Zealand wine is now present in more than 100 markets, with 42,000 hectares of vineyards and 90 per cent of production sold overseas. Chair of New Zealand Winegrowers, Fabian Yukich, said the anniversary comes at a time of both strength and challenge. “A strong reputation and in-market performance ahead of competitors are real positives on which to build for the future, however, producers are currently navigating their way through a complex and uncertain business environment.”
The United States remains the largest destination, taking $762 million of exports, though volumes fell 3 per cent over the past year. Tariff increases imposed in April and August are expected to weigh further, though their full impact is not yet clear.
Shipments to China rose 47 per cent to $56 million, while South Korea nearly doubled to $44 million. Exports to second-tier markets overall lifted 17 per cent to just under $600 million.
Industry leaders point to lighter and refreshing wine styles, highlighted by IWSR research.
Vintage 2025 brought favourable weather, with warm days and cool nights producing near-record yields.
“While much has changed since 2020, the fundamentals that have made New Zealand wine successful over the past three decades have not,” Yukich said.