18 Aug 2009

Wine exports just shy of $1b

10:08 pm on 18 August 2009

New Zealand wine exports have hit a new high, just short of $1 billion.

In the year to June, companies sold a total of 113 million litres of wine, which returned a record $992 million.

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan says it is a substantial increase on the previous year, which was also a record.

Highlights of the past year include 51% more wine being sold in Australia and a 22% increase in exports to Britain, he says.