KEY POINTS:
The fast-growing New Zealand wine industry exported more in one record month than it did in a whole year only a decade ago.
Wine exports in September totalled more than $100 million, compared with $98 million in the whole of 1998.
New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said the industry was on track to achieve an export target of $1 billion a year by 2010.
"It is pleasing to see demand for these emerging varietals increase as New Zealand's reputation for quality wine grows internationally."
Statistics New Zealand data showed September to be a record month in both value and volume with 10.8 million litres exported - equivalent to about 14.4 million bottles.
The industry had not yet seen any international effect from the global financial crash and threat of recession, Gregan said.
"You do get change in behaviours and that behaviour might be, for example, a downturn in the on-premises [sales], so in the restaurant sector, but an upturn in retail sales."
Total industry sales for the year ending June 30 were $1.25 billion, including a 14 per cent rise in exports to $797.8 million.
The 2008 harvest was up 39 per cent on last year at 285,000 tonnes, with good weather and more land coming into production.
Not all of the harvest would be sold in the year ending June 2009 but the industry was in line with an export projection survey, Gregan said.
"It will all depend on how export performance goes over the coming months."
Annual export volumes were forecast to rise from about 88 million litres in the year ending June to about 160 million-165 million litres in the year ending June 2013.
Gregan said sauvignon blanc continued to be New Zealand's largest varietal export with pinot gris continuing to grow as international demand intensified.
Australia is the biggest growth market with 3.5 million litres exported in September, followed by Britain with 3.4 million and the US with 2.3 million.
