The challenge
Producing natural, low-alcohol, low-calorie wines.
The challenge is not just producing high quality lower alcohol and lower calorie wines but producing them naturally, giving New Zealand a point of difference and making New Zealand the “go to” country for high quality, lower alcohol and lower calorie wines.
The solution
This programme aims to capitalise on market-led opportunities domestically and internationally, using applied research and development to provide innovative solutions.
The research will focus on natural production using sustainable viticultural techniques and native yeasts unique to New Zealand, giving wineries a point of difference to existing processing methods and other products on the market.
The programme will develop a number of viticulture and winery tools that will enable the industry to service the rapidly growing market for lower calorie and lower alcohol wines with high quality, naturally-produced options.
Outcome Logic Model
Outcomes to date
- Strong market opportunities for premium Lifestyle Wines have been identified from the initial market research completed in target markets.
- Sensory profiling of lower alcohol wines has shown it is possible to create wines with similar characteristics of full strength wines.
- Conceptual framework developed of how consumers respond to non-sensory characteristics of New Zealand Lifestyle Wines.
- All vineyard manipulation trials completed for the first growing season and analysis is underway.
- Over 150 trial wines have been processed and progressing to finished wines for analysis.
- Differences in fermentation characteristics of selected yeasts having been observed and investigations are progressing.
- First annual workshop and first field day for commercial partners (Grantors) have been held and were well received.
- Marketing workshop held with representatives of the commercial partners (Grantors) to help guide the marketing strategy for the programme.
- Four popular articles published by New Zealand Winegrower magazine.
Key facts
Programme start: March 2014
Length: 7 years
PGP funding: $8.13 million
Industry funding: $8.84 million
Crown funding paid out to programme for work done to 31 AugustMay 2016:$2,679,609.72$2,430,704.03
Commercial Partners: NZ Winegrowers and 18 contributing wineries.
Estimated potential economic benefits to NZ: The programme aims to deliver economic benefits of $285 million per annum by the end of 2023.