Despite less than perfect weather conditions around flowering, the final quantity of sauvignon blanc crushed at Giesens’ recently expanded Blenheim winery was a record 4000 tonnes.
General manager, Jim Veitch says, "Early indications are that quality and fruit flavours from this year’s vintage will be very good and in line with what consumers throughout the world are increasingly appreciating about this unique wine variety.
“We can’t keep up with demand for our Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and the Australian market, in particular, is doing very well for us.
“Our recent investment of NZ$3.5m (US$2.582m) on expanding and upgrading our winery and tank capacity in Blenheim and establishing a new bottling and packaging plant in Christchurch is already paying off.
"Planning and resources are in place for the next vintage in April/May 2008 to exceed 5000 tonnes with ready demand for this increase from existing customers,” concludes Veitch.
In further recent expansion, the family-owned business purchased two more vineyards and will acquire a third new vineyard in October this year, bringing its total vineyard area to 300 hectares – all in the Wairau Valley of Marlborough in the north of New Zealand's South Island.
Giesens also report that exports (now accounting for 95 per cent of total sales) to the major markets of Australia, United States and the United Kingdom are still growing rapidly.
While the prevailing high level of the New Zealand dollar is impacting on margins in some cases, the future outlook for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at consumer and trade level remains very positive says Veitch.
