Local wines take hit from NZ imports

 The chief executive of the Wine Federation of Australia says a consumer shift towards New Zealand sauvignon blanc is contributing to a drop in local wine sales.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show sales of imported wine have increased by 50 per cent.

Stephen Strachan says wineries and growers need to focus on marketing to compete with imported products which are also becoming more affordable.

Mr Strachan says it is just one of many issues facing the wine industry.

"The wine industry in 2009, whether you're a grape grower or a winery, is probably going through about the toughest set of circumstances you could imagine," he said.

"On the one hand we ought to hope that it gets better, but on the other hand we recognise that we've got some real issues to deal with as an industry."