The largest research and development effort ever undertaken by the New Zealand wine industry designed to position New Zealand as number 1 in the world for high quality, lower alcohol and lower calorie wines is underway.
“The Lifestyle Wines programme will raise New Zealand’s already strong reputation for producing some of the world’s finest wines,” says Justine Gilliland, MPI’s Director PGP. “This is the first wine industry programme under the PGP, marking not only an exciting time for the PGP, but for our wine industry.”
Phillip Gregan, New Zealand Winegrowers CEO, says the programme aims to capitalise on market-led opportunities domestically and internationally.
“Research indicates that an increasing proportion of consumers are making purchasing decisions around their lifestyle, such as choosing healthier foods and lower alcohol wines," he says.
“Our challenge now is not just producing high quality lower alcohol and lower calorie wines but producing them naturally—this will give New Zealand a point of difference and make New Zealand the “go to” country for high quality, lower alcohol and lower calorie wines.
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.
“The PGP as a whole is about growing New Zealand’s future,” says Justine. “The Lifestyle Wines PGP programme will produce tangible outcomes for the grape and wine industry and the economy as a whole—it’ll take our wine industry to a new level.”
MPI will invest up to NZ$8.13 million in this PGP programme over seven years, with $8.84 million coming from industry partners as a mixture of cash and in-kind contributions.
Lifestyle wines co-investors consist of:
- Allan Scott Wines
- Accolade Wines
- Constellation Brands
- Giesen Estate Winery
- Indevin
- Kono Wines
- Lawson's Dry Hills
- Moana Park Estate Winery
- Mount Riley Wines
- Mt Difficulty Wines
- Runner Duck Estate
- Spy Valley Wines
- Villa Maria Estates
- Whitehaven Wines
- Wither Hills (Lion)
- Yealands Estate
About the PGP
- The PGP aims to boost the productivity and profitability of our primary sector through investment between government and industry. It provides an essential springboard to enable New Zealand to stay at the forefront of primary sector innovation.
- PGP programmes are generally long-run programmes of five to seven years’ duration and are subject to oversight and monitoring by an independent panel (the Investment Advisory Panel) and MPI.
- There are 18 announced programmes covering the breadth of the primary industry sectors: wool, dairy, fishing and aquaculture, meat, pastoral, bee keeping, forestry, viticulture and horticulture.
- Monitoring requirements for PGP programmes include programme steering groups, quarterly progress reporting, annual plans, audits, and progress reviews, along with evaluation of the overall programme. Funding is only released to programmes on receipt of invoices for work completed in accordance with programme plans.
- MPI is seeking applications for new PGP programmes. Applications must be received by MPI by 12pm on Wednesday 25 June 2014. See the PGP webpage on MPI’s website for further information and guidance.
For more information contact:
Philip Gregan
CEO
New Zealand Winegrowers
philip@nzwine.com
09 306 5555
021 964 564
Brad Young, Senior Communications Advisor, MPI
media@mpi.govt.nz
Media phone: 029 894 0328
