Honeymooners pay record price for bottle of NZ wine

A 2001 bottle of Gibston Valley Wines' pinot noir. One of the few remaining bottles of the 2000 vintage recently sold for $1000. Photo / Nicola Topping

A British honeymoon couple from Hong Kong have paid what is believed to be a record price for a bottle of New Zealand wine.

They shelled out $1000 for a bottle of Gibbston Valley Wines' world champion 2000 Pinot Noir at Gantley's Restaurant near Queenstown.

Now a rare find, the standard 750ml bottle came highly recommended at the restaurant, where there are only four or five bottles of the treasured drop remaining.

Restaurant co-owner Brent Rands told the Southland Times the last bottle he sold was last year for $750 and with very few bottles remaining he increased the price to $1000 in January.

"I thought it's getting so scarce now, if it's gonna go, it's gonna go..."

Gibbston Valley Wines managing director Mike Stone said yesterday the wine's latest feat "felt pretty good".

"To the best of my knowledge it's the first (750ml) bottle by a New Zealand producer that's ever sold for $1000."

The wine sold at the cellar door for just $65 eight years ago, Mr Stone said.

- NZPA