By Amy Looker
New South Wales wine drinkers are throwing their support behind locally produced wine, with figures from Nielsen showing that seven out of 10 bottles of wine produced in NSW are purchased by drinkers in their home state.
The figures were announced at the launch of the NSW Wine Festival this week, a month-long festival that celebrates New South Wales wine with a series of events, dinners and tastings.
According to Nielsen, sales of New South Wales bottled wine in New South Wales retail outlets are experiencing continued year-on-year growth, reaching yet another record high of $82.1 million for 2010, up 18.3 per cent or $12.7 million from the previous year.
Over half the growth achieved falls within the super-premium $20-plus bottle category.
“The wine drinkers of this state have heard and embraced the message that New South Wales winemakers deliver top quality wines,” said James Agnew, chair of the NSW Wine Strategy.
“More than ever they are seeking out new regions and wine styles and purchasing New South Wales wines. It delights me that people are discovering the quality and diversity that New South Wales wineries offer.”
The first event on the NSW Wine Festival calendar kicks off this weekend with The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Cellar Door in Hyde Park.
Coming up later in the month will be a series of wine dinners featuring different New South Wales wine regions and special dining offers at some of the state’s top restaurants.