Low-alcohol wine released in Hawke's Bay

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A growing emergence of low-alcohol wines across the New Zealand and world markets has been boosted by long-standing Mission Estate Winery in Hawke's Bay releasing its first pinot gris effort.

It was unlikely to be the last, Mission chief executive officer Peter Holley said, citing a study released last year involving the US, the UK and six European countries showed 38 per cent of wine drinkers were buying wines with alcohol levels below 10.5 per cent.

"Health conscious New Zealanders are also increasingly choosing lower-alcohol wines," Mr Holley said.

"Our new pinot gris contains just 9.5 per cent alcohol, and is an exciting first step for Mission Estate into this rapidly developing market."

The vineyard carried out a "small pick" of about seven to eight tonnes of grapes for the trial batch back in late February.

It had been picked early to ensure the alcohol content came in around 9.5 per cent.

It is 25 per cent lower in alcohol and 15 per cent lower in calories than Mission Estate's standard pinot gris, although the winemakers had worked to retain the variety's distinctive acidity and floral aromas that had made it a favourite with wine lovers.

"After 35 vintages, developing this wine has been one of my more memorable challenges," head winemaker Paul Mooney said.

"We weren't prepared to compromise on the quality simply to reduce the alcohol content."

While pinot gris was a relative newcomer to New Zealand it had risen in popularity and is now recognised as the third most popular white variety. Mission Estate had also embarked on an organic focus.

The fruit is from an organically-certified block at the vineyard.

The vineyard is one of three New Zealand wineries, and the only one in Hawke's Bay, which make up the Organic Focus Group. As well as pursuing organic varieties the winery was also pursuing the growing low-alcohol wine sector. About 500 dozen bottles of the low-alcohol pinot gris had been produced for sale through the vineyard's cellar door.