Wine production increases

Press, 31 October 1979, Page 30

Wine production increases

PA Wellington New Zealanders’ increasing enjoyment of wine encouraged growers to produce more in the year to June but sales of wine in the same period fell slightly, according to the Deputy Government

Statistician (Mr S. Kuzmicich).

Figures based on a census of licensed New Zealand winemakers showed that 88 out of 105 grape-wine licence-holders and 12 out of 14 fruitwine licence-holders had been in production during the year, he said. New Wine put down during the year had increased 4.5 per cent from 40,510,000 litres in 1977-78 to 42,341,000 litres in 1978-79.

“Disposals” had decreased by 1.8 per cent and stocks held at the end of the year had increased by 5.7 per cent.” Grape table wines had continued to be most popular.

Production and disposal had continued to be centred in the region north of Hamilton and Wanganui and on the East Coast of the North Island.

Total production in these two areas during the season had amounted to 39,760,000 litres of the 42,341,000 litres produced. Wine production in the South Island had doubled from last year to 2,581,000 litres.

Sales in the eNorth Island had accounted for 33,097,000 litres of 34,502,000 litres disposed of and South Island sales had doubled to 1,405,000 litres.