Wines from New Zealand have experienced sales and export growth, with overall sales up by 8% compared to last year.

According to the New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) report, exports reached $2.108 billion, with export volume increasing to 306.2 million litres in the 12 months to June 2026.

Accounting for around 90% of New Zealand wine sales, international exports are vital to the country, the report continued.

Considering individual markets, NZW said that key markets include the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and China.

It continued that there had also been standout growth in South Korea, which it has now added to its list of key markets.

In terms of wine styles, NZW said that it had seen traction for lighter and low & no wines, particularly in the US market, where the lower-alcohol category is thriving.

Looking at the most recent harvest, NZW noted that volume for this year’s vintage was down, with the 440,000 tonnes of grapes representing a 15% decrease on the 2025 vintage.

The association said that the smaller harvest would ideally counterbalance the previous year’s large harvest, which created significant oversupply issues for the country’s producers.

On the year, Fabian Yukich, New Zealand Winegrowers chair, said: “This has been a challenging year across the global wine industry, but New Zealand wine continues to show remarkable resilience.

“What stands out is the determination of growers and wineries to adapt. Businesses in the sector are making adjustments, the progress made this year gives us confidence that it is moving towards a more balanced footing.”

Anishka Jelicich, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers, added: “Our new strategy has a clear purpose: to elevate and sustain the New Zealand wine industry by empowering our members.

“This means giving growers and wineries the information, advocacy and practical support they need to make well-informed decisions.”

Image credit: NZW.Inc.Escarpment.Vineyard.