Looking for a story? Recent media releases issued by New Zealand Winegrowers can be found below.
Sign up to receive media releases here.
Are you of legal drinking age in your country of residence?
Are you of legal drinking age in your country of residence?
Looking for a story? Recent media releases issued by New Zealand Winegrowers can be found below.
Congratulations to Damon Lovell, Vineyard Manager at Carrick, who took out the title of 2025 Central Otago Young Viticulturist of the Year.
Congratulations to Georgia Mehlhopt from Greystone in Waipara, who was crowned the 2025 South Island Regional Young Viticulturist of the Year on 26 June.
Congratulations to James Sutcliffe from Craggy Range, Wairarapa, who was crowned the 2025 North Island Regional Young Viticulturist of the Year on 12 June.
Congratulations to Nick Putt from Craggy Range, who became the 2025 Hawke’s Bay Young Viticulturist of the Year on 5 June.
Congratulations to Anna Kelland from Constellation Brands, who became the 2025 Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year on 29 May.
The New Zealand wine industry remains committed to a sustainable future, a vision that industry leaders have been championing for over 30 years. The 2025 New Zealand Winegrowers Sustainability Report takes the pulse of the industry’s progress with sustainability.
New Zealand Wine Continues to Defy Market Trends, Growing for 16th Consecutive Year in the U.S.
2025 is set to be an exciting year for the New Zealand Young Viticulturist of the Year programme as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
New Zealand wine is returning with a significant presence at this year’s ProWein, from 16-18 March 2025.
New Zealand wine enjoyed a white Christmas this year, following the release of the latest performance figures of all wine in the UK market.
In 1993 New Zealand’s wine industry had a vision to increase its wine exports from $41m to $100m by the year 2000. That boldness over thirty years ago sowed the seeds that set the New Zealand wine industry on its way to establishing its Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) programme which celebrates three decades in 2025.
New Zealand is recognised as having one of the most collegiate wine industries in the world and the annual New Zealand Winegrowers Mentoring Programme is a wonderful example of this.
A group of international sommeliers will arrive in New Zealand next year, thanks to New Zealand Winegrowers’ Sommelier Scholarships.
The New Zealand Winegrowers board has recently appointed two new leaders, Fabian Yukich (Chair) and Emma Taylor (Deputy Chair). Each brings distinct strengths and a passion for representation of members across the sector.
Vineyard profitability is key to ensuring a thriving New Zealand wine industry. As costs continue to rise, producers must adapt and innovate to remain profitable. A new research programme called Next Generation Viticulture, led by Bragato Research Institute (BRI), has been designed to address these challenges.
New Zealand Winegrowers has released the New Zealand Wine Roadmap to Net Zero 2050.
Congratulations to Nina Downer who has been announced as the 2024 Young Viticulturist of the Year, and to Georgia Mehlhopt who has become the 2024 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year.
For the first time, the Young Viticulturist of the Year and the Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year will be announced on the same day on 29 August.
New Zealand Winegrowers welcomes the new Special Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) for seasonal workers announced by the government.
New Zealand Winegrowers applauds the government’s commitment to increase the Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) scheme numbers to 20,750 and the sensible improvements to the scheme.
New Zealand Winegrowers congratulates Stuart Smith MP and Parliament on the passing of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Winery Cellar Door Tasting) Amendment Bill following its third reading.
Congratulations to Nick Lamain from VinLink who was pronounced the 2024 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Marlborough Young Winemaker of the Year.
New Zealand Winegrowers is delighted to announce the appointment of its 2024 Fellows.
Congratulations to Katie Cameron from Ata Rangi in Martinborough who is the 2024 Tonnellerie de Mercurey North Island Young Winemaker of the Year.
Congratulations to Nick McArthur from Tiki Wines who became the 2024 North Canterbury Young Viticulturist of the Year.
New Zealand Women in Wine is delighted to have launched its 2024 Mentoring Programme.
Congratulations to Nina Downer from Felton Road who was crowned the 2024 Central Otago Young Viticulturist of the Year.
Congratulations to Anna Kelland from Constellation Brands who became the 2024 Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year after a challenging competition held on 4 July at Whitehaven in Rapaura.
As we celebrate the rising stars of Matariki it seems timely that the rising stars of the New Zealand wine industry are starting to prepare for the Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year competition.
Congratulations to Annika Salenjus from Craggy Range who became the 2024 Wairarapa Young Viticulturist of the Year following the competition held at Escarpment on 20 June.
Congratulations to Joe Stenberg from Te Mata Estate who took out the coveted title of Hawke’s Bay Young Viticulturist of the Year 2024 after a tough competition at Paritua Vineyards in Bridge Pa.
For three days in February 2025, New Zealand’s South Island city of Ōtautahi Christchurch, will host a community of souls united by their reverence for Pinot Noir.
New Zealand Wine is calling on white wine lovers across the world to celebrate New Zealand white wine this May, as well as continuing the quest to secure the white wine emoji.
New Zealand Winegrowers is pleased to announce a new project to develop an industry specific tool for winegrowers to help them develop a Freshwater Farm Plan.
New Zealand Winegrowers is delighted to announce that Jo Cribb will be the new Chair of NZ Women in Wine, effective February 2024.
Quality expectations for the upcoming grape harvest are positive amongst grape growers and wineries as the warm summer continues in winegrowing regions around New Zealand.
As the Bragato Research Institute (BRI) looks towards its seventh year of operation in 2024, an exciting opportunity has arisen to take the leadership reins of one of New Zealand’s most innovative, industry-led research organisations.
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act (Community Participation) Amendment Bill that was passed today may have unintended and serious consequences for New Zealand wine tourism according to New Zealand Winegrowers.
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Cellar Door Tasting) Amendment Bill has passed its first reading.
Strong export value and increasing international demand will help support further export growth over the next 12 months.
New Zealand Winegrowers is delighted that Dr John Barker has been elected as Director General of The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
The Bill proposes that licensing authorities could decline a renewal of a license where it is inconsistent with conditions on location or licence density in the relevant Local Alcohol Policy (LAP).
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand’s oldest wine region, has joined 11 other global wine heavyweights as the newest Great Wine Capital of the world.
New Zealand Winegrowers welcomes the announcement that the UK FTA will enter into force on 31 May 2023.
New Zealand Wine is calling on white wine lovers across the world to celebrate New Zealand
white wine this May, as well as continuing the quest to secure the white wine emoji.
The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, and the extent of the damage to vineyards in flooded areas in the North Island is still being assessed, but clean-up is underway as winegrowers look towards this year’s harvest.
NZW welcomes Catherine Wansink on a part time secondment, as Australia Market Consultant.
New Zealand Wine, Altogether Unique is New Zealand Winegrowers’ new global brand platform, highlighting the very best of the New Zealand wine industry.
The value of New Zealand wine in international markets is stronger than ever, with exports for 12 months to September at an all-time high of $2.03 billion, up 6% from the previous year.
New Zealand Winegrowers is pleased that the government has nominated Dr John Barker as a candidate for the role of Director General of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
New Zealand Winegrowers welcomes the announcement today that the Government has increased the RSE cap to 19,000, providing 3000 additional places.
New Zealand Winegrowers is thrilled the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Cellar Door Tasting) Amendment Bill, proposed by Stuart Smith MP, has been drawn from the Member’s Bill Ballot today.
The New Zealand wine industry has recognised the service and dedication of industry icons Dominic Pecchenino, Jim and Rose Delegat, Clive Paton and Phyll Pattie, and Chris Howell, by inducting them as Fellows of New Zealand Winegrowers.
New Zealand Winegrowers is pleased that wine exporters will benefit from the announcement of a new free trade deal with the European Union (EU).
New Zealand grape growers and wineries are breathing a sigh of relief following an improved vintage in 2022 that will help the industry rebuild stocks and sales, reports New Zealand Winegrowers.
The New Zealand wine industry will gather in June to hear the latest research presented by scientists and industry experts at the annual Grape Days events.
Excise on wine is set for its biggest increase in 30 years, following the government’s decision to lift excise by 6.9% from 1 July.
New Zealand Winegrowers have released their 2022 Sustainability Report, providing a snapshot of the New Zealand wine industry’s sustainability journey.
New Zealand Winegrowers are calling on white wine lovers across the world to celebrate New Zealand white wine this May.
New Zealand Winegrowers is pleased with today’s announcement that New Zealand has signed a historic free trade deal with the United Kingdom.
The first grapes of the 2022 vintage have been harvested, with ongoing international demand and low stock levels meaning that winemakers are hoping for a significantly larger harvest this year.
After the success of the inaugural New Zealand Wine Week event in 2021, New Zealand Winegrowers will be kicking off the second New Zealand Wine Week on 8 February 2022.
From making strides in wine governance to adding sparkle to the wine industry, the 2021 NZW Fellows are a group of highly respected and influential individuals who have helped to shape the success of New Zealand wine today.
International demand for New Zealand wine shows no sign of slowing, with export value reaching $599 million in the first quarter of the new export year, up 9% on the previous year.
New Zealand Winegrowers is pleased with today’s announcement of an Agreement in Principle for a future New Zealand UK Free Trade Agreement.
New Zealand Winegrowers welcomes the government’s confirmation that quarantine free travel (QFT) for RSE workers from Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu will start in October.
New Zealand Winegrowers welcomes the extension of some essential skills visas from 12 to 24 months, and the streamlining of the application system.
Eleven women mentors working in the New Zealand wine industry have volunteered to share their experiences and knowledge to mentor eleven other women in the industry.
Although the harvest was smaller than hoped for, the quality of the 2021 vintage is being described as exceptional throughout New Zealand’s wine regions.
New Zealand Winegrowers welcomes the Government announcement today to recommence the movement of RSE workers from the Pacific to New Zealand
The New Zealand wine harvest is nearing completion, and a superb summer throughout most of the country means the industry is looking forward to a vintage of excellent quality, according to New Zealand Winegrowers.
