Industry to focus on what's next for New Zealand wine at major conference today

New Zealand grapegrowers and winemakers will meet at a major wine industry conference in Blenheim today, to focus on ‘what’s next’ for the industry as it manages its way out of the economic downturn, while continuing to drive the quality of wine production.

Chairman of New Zealand Winegrowers, Stuart Smith, opened the 16th annual Romeo Bragato conference this morning. He acknowledged encouraging signs for the industry in the last year – the value of exports exceeding $1 billion for the first time, more than 20 per cent growth in export volume, Pinot Noir exceeding $100 million in exports and a high quality 2010 vintage – but stressed the on-going challenges the industry faced.

“These would normally be matters to toast and celebrate but as we all know these are not normal times. After two decades of sustained growth, we are all now experiencing the worst trading conditions since the mid-1980’s.

“The global recession and markets trading down combined with issues specific to our own sector have affected us. We have seen grape and land prices fall sharply, bulk exports increase, in-market wine prices are down, and the New Zealand dollar remains high against the UK pound and the US dollar.”

Mr Smith said it was vital New Zealand grapegrowers and winemakers worked together over the next few years, and that wine production was of the highest standard, so the industry could continue to grow.

Romeo Bragato 2010, which runs from 26-28 August at Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000, Blenheim, is New Zealand’s major technical conference for the grape growing and wine industry.

The Rabobank Address will be delivered by Marc Soccio, senior analyst wine for Rabobank, who will speak on exiting the global financial downturn and how global markets will recover. Other speakers at the three-day conference include:
· Chris Winefield, Lincoln University, Christchurch – Variation within grape varieties
· Colin Ross, Seresin Estate, Blenheim – Organic Winegrowing
· Kobus Hunter, Agricultural Resource Council, South Africa – Improving grape and wine quality
· Gary Pickering, Brock University, Canada – What to look out for when wine tasting.


The conference programme also features New Zealand’s only awards for the grapegrower - the Romeo Bragato Wine Awards, the Markhams Young Viticulturalist of the Year and the Silver Secateurs awards. These awards will be announced at a gala dinner on Saturday 28 August.

Minister of Agriculture Hon David Carter also addressed delegates this morning.

For further information (including copies of speech notes) please visit www.bragato.org.nz