New Zealand is a Pacific Island nation known for the openness and warmth of its people, its diverse cultural mix, and its ability to ‘punch above its weight’ on the world stage. Wine is part of New Zealand culture and one of the most powerful ways to experience the amazing ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’. The first grapevines were planted as far back as 1819, but even so, it took more than 150 years to understand how suitable the cool maritime climate was for the production of high-quality wines. It is interesting to note that 90% of New Zealand wine are exported, with an estimated market value of US$2.4bn according to the Winegrowers Annual Report of 2023.
Total market revenue amounted to US$2.91bn in 2023 (forecast). Ассording to Statista, average growth over the next four years will amount to a little over 4% per year. Volume of wine products on the market were estimated at US$1.36bn in 2022, according to Inkwood Research. In 2022 the volume of wine available for consumption was 92-101 million liters.
New Zealand wines are now well-known and popular in all corners of the world, and in the country itself, wine-lovers can easily find products from other countries, thanks to the country’s numerous distributors. The NZ wine market is dynamic, with partnerships evolving over time. It’s worth noting, however, that the structure of wine imports to New Zealand has remained approximately the same for years – the data may change slightly, but the percentages are stable. Australia, France, Italy, Spain, USA, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Portugal, Germany are the largest wine importers to New Zealand.
Top Wine Importing Countries
1. Australia – $68.28 million
2. France – $33.91 million
3. Italy – $ 9.36 million
4. Spain – $2.51 million
5. United States of America – $2,38 million
Australia is a neighboring country and a significant wine producer. New Zealand imports a range of Australian wines, including those from regions like the Barossa Valley, Margaret River, and Hunter Valley. Italian wines, such as those from Tuscany (Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino) and Piedmont (Barolo, Barbaresco), are imported and enjoyed by wine enthusiasts in New Zealand. Wines from regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and the Rhône Valley are also popular imports in New Zealand. Finally, there is demand for US wines, Spanish wines, South African, Chilean, Portuguese wines and wines from other wine-producing regions.
Wine companies from different countries may form partnerships with New Zealand wine importers to export and distribute on the local market. These partnerships can vary in scale and nature, ranging from exclusive import agreements to more informal distribution arrangements. The wine market in New Zealand is dynamic, and below you’ll find some of its key aspects.
According to Statista, New Zealand is ranked 43rd in the world in terms of wine consumption. New Zealanders are set to consume 36,400 metric tons of wine in 2026, up from 35,000 metric tons in 2021. This growth of 0.6% year-on-year is lower than the rate since 2017, which was 2.7%.
It costs between NZ$9 and NZ$15 for a glass of wine; a bottle can cost anything from NZ$35 upwards in a restaurant or cafe. Mid-range bottles cost approximately $9.64.
New Zealand is a country with a growing wine scene. Here you can find venues with great depth both in national and international varieties.