New Zealand

Brits buy record amount of NZ wine

14:44 pm on 26 July 2014

The British are buying premium New Zealand wine this year at a rate beaten only by product from France.

New Zealand Wine Growers says the latest Nielson data shows 18 percent of all wines sold in the United Kingdom, priced at over $15 (£7 ) is from this country.

Global marketing director with New Zealand Wine Growers, Chris Yorke, said that is equal to one in five bottles in that price range.

He says it is an outstanding result and a 30 percent increase on last year's sales.

"We only produce about 1 percent of the world's wine, so if you're selling 1 in 5 bottles above £7 in the UK, which is probably one of the most sophisticated wine markets in the world, it is a real achievement."

Mr Yorke said wine worth $1.3 billion was exported in the year to June - a record high.