2013 New Zealand Wine Vintage Set to Be One of the Best

(Scoop) - The 2013 New Zealand grape harvest has been completed with high quality grapes picked in all regions. Winemakers across the country are heralding it as one of the best vintages in history.

"An outstanding New Zealand summer provided near perfect conditions for growing grapes across the country" said Philip Gregan, chief executive officer of New Zealand Winegrowers. "The result is that we expect the 2013 wines to be vibrant, fruit driven and complex expressions of our diverse grape growing regions. 2013 looks set to be a vintage to remember."

According to the 2013 Vintage Survey, 345,000 tonnes of grapes were harvested. The 2013 crop is up 28% on the small harvest last year but up only 5% on 2011.

"The small 2012 grape crop left the industry unable to meet continuing strong consumer demand in established and new markets. Winemakers will welcome the more normal 2013 harvest as the better balanced supply will facilitate renewed export growth in the year ahead" said Mr Gregan. 

May has already seen a record number of wine shipments. "These early shipments of 2013 wines are a sure sign that the thirst for New Zealand wine is set to stay."