NEW ZEALAND WINE STILL IN FAVOUR: Rising global demand for New Zealand wine points to further export growth for the industry this year, with the country’s cool climate wines and premium positioning retaining favour in major export markets. Rabobank has reported in its latest quarterly report on the wine sector that wine markets liked the lighter-bodied wines such as those produced in New Zealand. On the supply side, the bank said 2016 production volumes are expected to be significantly higher than last year, pointing to a good 50 MAY 2016 CLOUDY BAY RETURNS TO CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW: Cloudy Bay will return to the Chelsea Flower Show later this month, with a bar inside landscape architect Sam Ovens first-ever show garden offering glasses of signature wines Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Ovens, one of the youngest to design a garden at Chelsea, has designed a garden inspired by the surroundings of the Marlborough-based winery and his studio in Cornwall. Cloudy Bay’s Maria Ines Pina says it is an exciting way for the company to engage with customers on the vibrant aspects of its identity. “The garden is an embodiment of natural luxury, with clean lines, serene water and planting providing a place to escape with a glass of wine in hand.” After the Chelsea Flower Show has finished on May 28, elements of the Cloudy Bay Garden will be taken to Stoke Mandeville as part of charity, Horatio’s Garden’s work, which creates accessible gardens in NHS spinal injury centres around the UK. ITALIANS TOPPLED AS BIGGEST WINE DRINKERS: United States biggest wine drinkers: In surprising news, American wine drinkers have topped the list of the world’s biggest wine-drinking nation last year (30.1 million hectolitres), followed by France (27.2 million), Germany (20.5 million) and Italy (20.4 million). The International Organisation of Vine and Wine says it’s the first time that Italy has been out-drunk by its German counterparts, and Britain jumped 2.4 per cent to 12.9 million hectolitres. Like most Europeans, Italians have been gradually drinking less in recent decades, with consumption tumbling by 19 per cent since the start of the recession that hit Italy in 2008. Hard-up Italian families have cut back on wine spending, with average consumption last year under 37 litres per person. Nearly half of Italians didn’t drink wine at all last year. upcoming market. “The volume of the 2016 vintage looks like it will be just right - it won’t be too big, yet it also won’t be too small for most companies entering the year with stocks erring on the tight side,” the report says. While there are a number of positives for the industry, there was some concern that the apparent upside is becoming increasingly concentrated in the hands of the country’s largest producers, he said. CONSTELLATION ANNOUNCEMENT: Simon Towns has been announced as the new president and managing director of New Zealand’s leading wine exporter Constellation Brands New Zealand. An Aucklander, Towns will return home to New Zealand after serving as senior vice president of strategy and development for Constellation in the United States, as well as leading growth strategies for several food and beverage brands internationally. Most notably, Towns was managing director for a California-based sparkling wine company label and, over the course of three years, led the business to nearly double production and profit, while maintaining quality. “I’m looking forward to returning home to New Zealand and continuing to build on the fantastic successes that Sam and his team have accomplished for Kim Crawford, Nobilo, Selaks and others,” Towns says. Current president Sam Glaetzer has been promoted to senior vice president of winemaking and production for Constellation in the United States. W I N E G R A B S
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