Western Bay of Plenty wine producers are thrilled the New Zealand wine industry has hit a $1 billion dollar milestone.
In the year to the end of July 31, New Zealand wine industry has achieved its milestone of $1.01 billion in exports, a year ahead of schedule.
Nick Aleksich, Mills Reef Winery general manager, says it is an important milestone that New Zealand wine growers only dreamed of 10 years ago.

New Zealand wine exports have reached over one billion dollars in the past year.

'It's a huge success in terms of our market share around the world and suggests New Zealand produces fantastic wine,” says Nick.
Philip Gregan, New Zealand Winegrowers CEO, says the phenomenal long term growth of New Zealand wine exports has been based on an industry wide commitment to world class quality wine.
'The wine industry has grown to become an important and internationally competitive part of the New Zealand economy,” says Philip.
A 2009 report from New Zealand Institute of Economic Research showed wine exports have grown at a compound rate of nearly 24 per cent each year for the past 20 years, four times the growth rate for all goods exported.
Wine exports represent 2.2 per cent of total exported goods and the industry supports 16,500 full-time jobs.
The industry contributes more than $1.5 billion to New Zealand's GDP.