KEY POINTS:
One in every eight bottles of wine sold in the United Kingdom's 5-pound-and-over market ($12.50 and over) is from New Zealand.
New Zealand Winegrowers today announced record sales in the UK with New Zealand wine now exceeding 10 per cent of the 5-pound-and-over market for the first time.
That market had also increased overall in the UK, exceeding 1 billion pounds for the first time.
This was a key market for New Zealand wine in the UK, New Zealand Winegrowers' global marketing director Chris Yorke said.
"In 2006, 73 per cent of New Zealand's wine in the United Kingdom was sold in the 5-pound-and-over market; in 2007 this has grown to 85 per cent."
New Zealand had increased its share in this market to a year on year increase of 46 per cent, which equated to a growth of 42 million pounds.
Mr Yorke said that level of growth in one of New Zealand wine's biggest export markets was fantastic.
"New Zealand is now selling one in every eight bottles in the UK above 5 pound market. This is outstanding, especially considering New Zealand only produces 0.3 per cent of the world's wine," he said.
"The United Kingdom is the most sophisticated wine market in the world, due to the choice available to them, and it's terrific that they are continuing to choose New Zealand wine."
Matt Pym from UK wine merchant Majestic Wine Warehouse said his firm had seen a steady growth in New Zealand's wine which had meant it had overtaken Australia for the first time.
" New Zealand continues to be one of our most successful regions and is now only second to France in our sales charts," Mr Pym said.
Sales of sauvignon blanc continued to increase in the UK market but there had been a continual rise in other varietals, particularly pinot noir.
"In 2001 we had just one New Zealand pinot noir - now we stock 17 and we have seen a surge in interest for pinot gris and gewurztraminer and a new syrah for summer. These are exciting times for New Zealand," Mr Pym said.
Dee Blackstock of Britain's premium supermarket stores Waitrose believed New Zealand's clean, green image continued to enhance wine sales.
"New Zealand wine is still perceived as good value for many and is known for its purity and freshness."
- NZPA
