Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Grape tonnage must not rise - NZ Winegrowers

Updated at 9:58 am on 29 August 2010

New Zealand Winegrowers says progress made in the past two years not to increase the tonnage of grapes produced, must continue.

Chairman Stuart Smith told the wine industry's annual Romeo Bragato conference in Blenheim that a harvest next year of 265,000 tonnes, would be sufficient to meet export demand for New zealand wine.

He said banks and businesses which service the viticultural industry, have to do more than just addressing short term pressures of cash flow and debt management.

Mr Smith said they have to show patience and think long term, because there's no doubt the wine industry will recover.

Copyright © 2010, Radio New Zealand