A decline in production of wine in Europe could see Northland wineries making a place for themselves in overseas markets.
A report from American financial services firm Morgan Stanley said global wine production peaked in 2004 and has been steadily falling since, with international demand outstripping supply by 300 million cases last year, resulting in "the deepest shortfall in over 40 years of records".
The Morgan Stanley report said new world wines, from New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Chile and South Africa, now accounted for 30 per cent of global exports, up from less than 3 per cent in the early 1980s.
Vineyard and winery owner at Okahu Estate Monty Knight said the gap from the decline of high-end wines from Europe could be filled by Northland hand-crafted exclusive wine varieties.
He said there is a demand in China for Northland red wines and already exports his pinotage, syrah and chambourcin to China.