Brits have a new reason to wine - price NZ sauvignon blanc in UK to go up

New Zealand sauvignon blanc is harder to come by in the UK this year. Photo / Supplied

British wine drinkers may face paying more for a glass of New Zealand sauvignon blanc.

A smaller harvest has put supplies to UK outlets under strain, hospitality supplier Beacon said.

Beacon drinks buyer Mark Holness said the reduced harvest would mean a favourite drink would be harder to come by and more expensive to buy.

"There is concern that supplies of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc are also under strain following the poor harvest and we are working with our contacts and suppliers to identify the full extent of the problems," he said.

"In recent years growers have also been moving away from the popular Marlborough region in New Zealand and so British drinkers might also notice a change in taste profile of the wine, which is something they may not be aware of yet."

It comes on top of a shortage in prosecco, another popular summer tipple in the UK.

"The double whammy of a possible prosecco and New Zealand sauvignon blanc drinks drought will mean fans of both wines having to spend more this summer to access their favourite bottles."

Mr Holness said the last poor harvest in 2012 saw a drop in exports to the UK of 2 per cent.

Chris Stroud of New Zealand Wine Growers said the 2015 vintage was expected to be down about 25 per cent on 2014, a record year, but there was little cause for concern.

He told The Drinks Business that wineries would manage stocks of 2014 vintage to meet demand. "We are also confident of an excellent crop and consumers will be able to continue to enjoy the quality that New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc delivers," he said.

Wine Growers CEO Philip Gregan said in March that the warm dry summer of 2015 was perfect for ripening grapes, and the prospects were for a high quality vintage.

Although the the 2015 vintage would be significantly smaller than last year, sales in the year ahead will be supported by stocks from 2014. Sauvignon blanc accounts for more than 86 per cent of wine exported from New Zealand, and exports are worth more than $1 billion a year.