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The New Zealand Wine Industry
Tucked away in the South Pacific, New Zealand is a small country that is achieving international acclaim for its expertise in many industries: films, fashion, sports... and wine.
Click on the region to find out more about the wine areas and wineries of New Zealand.
You'll probably already know that the New Zealand wine industry has grown dramatically and proudly in the last ten years or so. Although New Zealand produces only about 0.2% of the world's wine, our wine industry has created an internationally respected national brand. We're all about quality. We produce premium grapes for premium wines for the world's winelovers. No compromise. And, as of July 2007 wine was our second most valuable export to the UK.
NZ Winegrowers reports in July 2008 that Australia had become the largest export market by value, ahead of the UK, and up 37% to a record $247 million. Exports rose 14% to reach $800 million, and the industry is on target to achieve $1 billion in exports by the year 2010. Phew!! Not bad!!
Behind the ethos of high quality wine is the untiring work being done by those involved in the industry – the people.
With 585 licensed new Zealand winemakers*, and over 27,000 hectares* of grape vines (wine companies and 1073 registered grapegrowers*) producing 285,000* tonnes of grapes, it's apparent... a lot of people work in New Zealand's wine industry.
From land preparation, planting grapes, nurturing, irrigating and harvesting them, mowing vineyards and maintaining machinery; to crushing the grapes in wineries and turning them into stunning New Zealand wine… and of course bottling, packaging it up with smart labels and cartons and sending it off to local shops, restaurants and far off shores, there's passionate people involved every step of the way...
That's just to produce the wine.
Then there's the dozens of distributors, the hundreds of suppliers who keep vineyards and wineries in tractors, posts, wire, vines, tanks, pumps, barrels, bottles, cartons, labels... not to mention the many liquor retailers and restaurateurs who actually sell the stuff - all doing their bit in the chain from grape to glass.
A fair number of jobs?
Yep. Thousands actually. And, with the increased production from the current vintage, and continued forecast industry growth as new plantings come on stream, many more people will be needed to do all the work the industry is creating. Every job needs just the right person. There’s a huge number of jobs for experienced, qualified, dedicated, keen, passionate people. Talk to anyone in the industry, and one of the comments you’ll most often hear is not being able to find the right people for job vacancies.
Where will these people come from?
Some are already working in the industry in New Zealand and other wine producing countries. Some are happy in their present jobs and may never move – but may need to employ other people as part of their job. Others will see the need, for whatever reason, to change jobs or companies at some time in their career paths for personal and professional growth, development and experience.
Then there are people who are bursting to join our industry – new graduates from the national and international tertiary institutions, or people who just love wine, driven to be part of the dynamic industry that it is. And casual or seasonal workers – for vintage or pruning. Many come to New Zealand for periodic or permanent work from overseas. Many visit often, some fall in love with the lifestyle and people and make our country their home.
However you have ended up interested or working in wine, there’s more than a good chance that you’re as passionate about the industry and as dedicated as most people in it. It’s a great industry to be part of - in the universal language of winelovers everywhere, then, Cheers!
Industry Information and * - Source – NZ Winegrowers Annual report year end June 2008.
About winejobsonline.com
www.winejobsonline.com is owned and run by Paddy and Heather Battersby, New Zealanders with personal experience in the wine industry, recruitment and human resources. Read more about us here.
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