New Zealand aims to be the world’s leading producer of high-quality, lower calorie and lower alcohol 'Lifestyle' wines, thanks to a new world-leading research programme facilitated by a new Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) between the wine industry and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
The programme is the largest research and development project ever undertaken by New Zealand’s wine industry and is designed to position New Zealand as number 1 in the world for premium lifestyle wines.
“We’re excited by this programme in providing the opportunity for further innovation in the wine industry, and the potential to strengthen New Zealand’s reputation as a supplier of some of the world’s finest wines,” says Justine Gilliland, MPI’s Primary Growth Partnership Director.
“‘This is the first viticulture programme in the PGP, representing an exciting stage in the overall PGP programme. It’s a great example of how the PGP is enabling innovation in industries across the primary sector,” she says.
The programme will develop a number of viticulture and winery tools that will enable the industry to service the rapidly growing market for lower calorie and lower alcohol wines with high quality, naturally-produced options.
A total investment of NZ$16.97 million has been secured for the programme, with MPI committing NZ$8.13 million over seven years, and the balance coming from industry partners as a mixture of cash and in-kind contributions.
"This programme will capitalise on the domestic and international market demand for high quality, lower calorie and lower alcohol ‘Lifestyle’ wines by developing new, natural techniques for grapevine growth and wine production utilised across the New Zealand Wine Industry," says Philip Gregan, NZW CEO.
“Our point of difference will be producing premium wines that can be naturally produced using sustainable viticultural techniques and native yeasts - providing an important point of difference to existingprocessing methods.
“The programme will produce tangible outcomes for the grape and wine industry and the economy as a whole.”
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Lifestyle wines co-investors consist of:
- MPI
- New Zealand Winegrowers
- Pask Winery
- Constellation NZ
- Forrest
- Giesen Wines
- Indevin Partners NZ
- Lawsons Dry Hills
- Lion
- Moana Park Winery
- Mount Riley Wines
- Mud House Wine Group
- Pernod Ricard NZ
- Spy Valley Wines
- Villa Maria Estate
- Whitehaven Wine Company
- Yealands Estate Wines
For further information contact:
Philip Gregan
CEO
New Zealand Winegrowers
philip@nzwine.com
09 306 5555
021 964 564
