Let's drink to the economy

Tohu Wines. Photo / NZ Herald

2009 will have to go down as a year for the consumer. Never before has so much wine been available at such good prices.

Speaking recently to the head of one of the country's largest and most respected wine distributors, I asked how the year had been from a selling perspective - business as usual, difficult, or really tough? He didn't have to think for a moment: "Bloody tough".

Locally it's been a case of too much product and not enough buyers, particularly in the middle-to-premium range. Most restaurateurs will tell you that although diners are still buying wine to accompany their meal, the price they're prepared to pay per bottle has dived, and they're drinking less.

One enterprising local restaurant has an attachment to its comprehensive list saying, "All wine has now been discounted by 15 per cent ... except Domaine de la Romanee Conti" (France's most famous burgundy, it would still set you back $3200). Some of the country's top producers, especially those with obsessive loyal followers, are continuing to sell their wine - it's just taken a bit longer and they've often had to work a bit harder to move it.

Interestingly, in order to protect the brand, few are willing to drop their price but on the other hand there's been no significant price hike for premium labels for a number of years.

One excellent Central Otago producer with a much sought-after pinot noir has held the price at the mid-$30 mark for six years. Without doubt, the quality of New Zealand's top end wines have improved dramatically in the last few years and although most of us will baulk at spending $70-$90 for a single bottle, compared to Old World wines of similar style and quality our wines at the premium price point are inexpensive.

So, whether you're spending less than $12 or more than $30 for a bottle of wine, value for money has never been better.

Recommended

2009 Tohu Sauvignon Blanc
Heralding the release of new branding for New Zealand's first Maori-owned wine company. Marlborough grapes, producing a fresh, flavoursome, racy, thirst quenching beauty. Sublime sauvignon.
Price: $19

2008 Curio Pinot Noir from Bendigo, Central Otago
Grapes harvested in the dead of night to protect the delicate nature of fruit. Curio is Mud House Wines' boutique single vineyard range. Astonishing value.
Price: $28