N.Z. WINE EXPORT

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29265, 25 July 1960, Page 14

N.Z. WINE EXPORT

Sauterne-T y pe Suggested The export of sauterne-type table wines is suggested in the annual report of the Department of Agriculture as a means of easing the pressure of wine production on the New Zealand market. Climatic conditions in New Zealand place the industry in a favourable position to excel in the production of white table wines, and some very commendable wines of the sauterne-type have been produced at a reasonable cost, says'the report “A gradual but steady increase in the production of table wines in recent years, indicates that the New Zealand public is becoming more wine conscious.

“Refrigeration has effected a remarkable improvement in the keeping qualities and palate of New Zealand wines, and more wineries are Installing refrigeration equipment,” the report says In a few years, up to 200 more acres of vines will come into production.

“An overloaded wine market could be relieved by selling more grapes as fresh fruit and processing more of the crop for grape juice. "Winemakers in general could stabilise the economics of their operations if more dual-purpose grape varieties, suitable for both wine and dessert, were grown, and the production of grape juice extended," the report says. Wine production for 1959 is estimated at 829,800 gallons of grape wine (of which 144,250 is unfortified table wines and 685,550 gallons are fortified wines), 24.200 gallons of fruit wine, and 27,200 gallons of cider. Wine in stock at the end of 1959 was 1,607,000 gallons. Sale of New Zealand wines for the year ended June 30, 1959, was 801,900 gallons, the report says.