New Zealand 2021 Harvest: Sauvignon Blanc Shortage on the Horizon?
Vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand
© New Zealand Winegrowers Inc.

Vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand
© New Zealand Winegrowers Inc.
New Zealand Wine reported a 370,000 ton grape crop for the 2021 vintage. This represents a 19% drop compared to last year. While volume is down, the quality of the harvest is described as “exceptional.”
Not all growing regions were equally hit: Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson, and North Canterbury are all 20% down while Central Otago is 21% up.
With 69.63% of the country’s vineyards, Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest and economically most important wine region. It is home to 27,808 hectares/ 68,715 acres of Sauvignon Blanc and the diminished harvest will have an effect on supply and pricing.
Supply Tension
“While the quality is exceptional, the overall smaller harvest means many of our wineries will face tough decisions over who they can supply in their key markets. There is going to be some supply and demand tension because of this, with the shortfall in the crop equivalent to roughly 7 million 9 litre cases of New Zealand wine,” said Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers.
In 2020, 87.66% of New Zealand's total wine exports were of Sauvignon Blanc. Its most important export markets are the US, Great Britain, Australia, Canada and Germany.
FIND OUT MORE
-
Germany's Devastating Flood in Ahr Wine Region: Winegrowers in the AftermathTwo weeks after the devastating flood in Germany's Ahr wine region, the full extent of the disaster becomes apparent.
-
Obituary: Becky WassermannBecky Wassermann, 84, the legendary expat-American importer of Burgundy's great domaines, has died. Robin Lee recalls an extraordinary woman...
-
Wine From Chanel's Vineyards To Be Auctioned OffSotheby's is to auction untouched wines from Chanel vineyards in Bordeaux in October.
-
Wine and Spirits Qualifications Break New RecordThe Wine & Spirit Education Trust reports a record number of wine and spirits qualifications over the past year.
-
Wines from the Indian Subcontinent: The Nashik Valley in MaharashtraThe vine is a most adaptable plant – and thrives even in the subtropical heat of the Indian subcontinent.