HOW MUCH CHEAPER CAN WINE GET?

That is the question New Zealand’s pre-eminent wine writer Michael Cooper asks in his 2010 Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines, which contains a special report on ‘The Wine Glut’.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was rarely seen under $15 until a few years ago – if you wanted a bottle of white wine for less than $10, you bought an Australian chardonnay. Then popular brands such as Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Villa Maria Private Bin Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc started dipping under $10 on 'special'.

Now supermarkets are promoting brands of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc none of us have ever heard of before, at prices we have never heard of before – some as low as $5.99.
Can this downward price trend continue?

“The media is full of ‘doom and gloom’ wine stories,” says Cooper. “Not only are wine prices falling, so are the prices for grapes, established vineyards and land suitable for viticulture. In 2009, in several regions, grapes were left unpicked. Some vineyards are expected to be uprooted.”
But it’s not all bad news, he goes on to say, with some local producers recording exceptional results.
“Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is the biggest selling white wine of all – based on volume and value – in Australia. The quality and value of Hawke’s Bay’s claret-style reds, based on Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, are finally being appreciated. The 2009 Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, in their infancy, look aromatic, intense and zingy.

“Enjoy the bargains while you can. Senior industry executives predict the supply of New Zealand wine will exceed demand for at least another couple of years.”

Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines (Hodder Moa, $34.99 RRP) hit bookstores today and includes Michael’s much-anticipated Best Buy selections for red and white wine.