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New Zealand Takes Aim at Waist Watchers

New Zealand produces some truly delicious wines but now the industry has set its sights on becoming the leading producer in the world of lower alcohol, lower calorie wines.

 

With help from the government through their Ministry of Primary Industries, the equivalent of USDA in America, the $NZ17 million program ($US16.6 million) means New Zealand winegrowers will be able to develop “new, natural techniques for grapevine growth and wine production.” The government is chipping in about half the funding over seven years, the balance coming from the industry itself.

 

Noting that consumers in many markets, particularly the USA and UK are becoming more health conscious, Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers, sees New Zealand as being in a good position to establish itself as the major supplier of top quality lifestyle wines. New Zealand is famous for its sauvignon blanc and pinot noir, both lighter styles of wine, but the initiative will be geared to producing a full range of lower alcohol, lower calorie wines.