NSW Wine Celebrates Year on Year Growth, Again | NSW Wine Festival

More and more the people of New South Wales are discovering the joys of their home-state wine, with seven out of ten bottles of wine produced in New South Wales sold in New South Wales, according to figures newly released from Nielsen.

Sales of NSW bottled wine in NSW retail outlets are experiencing continued year on year growth, reaching yet another record high of $82.1 million for 2010, up an outstanding 18.3% or $12.7 million from the previous year.  Impressively, over half the growth achieved falls within the super-premium $20+ bottle category, confirming NSW wine drinkers’ growing appreciation for the quality of their State’s product.

Chair of the NSW Wine Strategy James Agnew says, ‘”The wine drinkers of this State have heard and embraced the message that NSW winemakers deliver top quality wines. More than ever they are seeking out new regions and wine styles and purchasing NSW wines. It delights me that people are discovering the quality and diversity that NSW Wineries offer.”

In February 2008 when the NSW Wine Strategy was launched, NSW Wines sales within our home State were $52.4 million, today they are $82 million, showing a staggering sales growth of $29.6 million in less than 4 years.

The breadth of wine produced in NSW will be on show at the Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Cellar Door this weekend at Hyde Park South where locals and visitors alike can meet the winemakers, tour the Wine Regions of NSW, taste the wines and savour sumptuous meals and  regional produce while enjoying outstanding live entertainment.

The NSW Wine Festival kicks off with Sydney Cellar Door this weekend.  For the full program or to pre-purchase tickets please visit www.nswwinefestival.com.au

·         The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Cellar Door: Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 February (11am-6pm)

Set in one of Sydney’s most beautiful alfresco venues, Hyde Park South, it is free to enter, with wine tasting packages starting at just $25.

·         Dine with NSW Wine

Throughout March, participating restaurants will offer a special lunch or dinner meal matched with a glass of premium NSW Wine for under $50.  Participants include: Azuma, Number One Wine Bar, Catalina Rose Bay, Golden Century, Bathers’ Pavilion, Ormeggio, and a number of regional NSW restaurants such as Silo in Newcastle, Eschalot in Berry and Arnott’s Bakehouse in the Hunter.

·         NSW Wine ~ Tour of the Regions Dinners

Four of Sydney’s leading hatted restaurants (Marque, Buon Ricordo, Restaurant Arras and Pilu at Freshwater) will host unique Tour of the Regions dinner experiences.

·         NSW Wine at The Sydney Morning Herald Growers’ Market

Wine writers Huon Hooke and Nick Stock will appear at the monthly Growers’ Market on Saturday March 5, to take marketgoers through a series of guided NSW wine tastings, matched with fabulous food from market producers.

31 December 2010 MAT Nielsen figures:

·       69.4% of bottled wine indicated to be from NSW is sold in NSW (MAT)

·       NSW accounts for 37.8% ($980m) of Australian Bottled Wine Sales with NSW experiencing 3.1% growth.

·       NSW Wine sales in the domestic market are predominantly in NSW with 69.4% ($82.1million) of NSW Wine sold in our home state, followed by 13.5% VIC, 12.6% QLD, 2.8% WA and 1% SA.

·       NSW Wine now represents 8.4% ($82.1 million) of the total bottled wine sold in NSW having grown18.3%

·       In $AUD dollar terms bottled wines sales in NSW indicated from NSW Wine have grown by $12.7 million on last year.

·       NOTE: All data prepared by Nielsen is based on wine sold in NSW that is indicated to be from NSW.