Sauvingon vintage out, focus on 2010 volumes

The wine industry launches its 2009 sauvignon blanc vintage on Friday following a year of strong export growth.

Wine exports have tripled over last five years and the industry cracked the $1 billion export mark in the year to July 31 - one year ahead of forecasts.

New Zealand Winegrowers managing director Chris Yorke says favourable weather conditions over summer created optimum harvest conditions for the 2009 grape growing season.

The 285,000-tonne harvest followed a similar sized bumper crop in 2008 in which volumes were up 20%.

Yorke says the high volumes threw supply and demand out of balance and the focus is now on making sure wineries and growers work together to meet the market.

"Our exports are growing at a very strong pace, so there's a strong growth of the demand...if we can continue to focus on making sure the supply matches our demand I think that's when we get it back into balance," he says.

In 2010, the industry will be aiming for a slightly lower volume of 265,000 tonnes, or about eight tonnes a hectare.

Yorke says this is in line with French growers in the Champagne region who are also aiming for the same per hectare tonnage.

New Zealand's key markets for its wine are Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, and there is increasing demand from Asian and continental European markets.