NSW Wine Celebrates Record Sales Growth | $79.3 Million

NSW Wine Strategy Applauded ~ Tempus Two wins NSW Wine of the Year

Hot off the Press: NSW Wine retail bottled wine sales within NSW have grown a staggering 22% or $14.3 million on the previous year to reach a record $79.3 million outstripping the State's growth of only 0.8% in the same period, showing NSW Wine has taken 21% market share from the other state producers including Victoria, South Australia and West Australia. This is a phenomenal result indicating the positive impact of the NSW Wine Strategy, guests at the 2010 NSW Wine Awards Gala Dinner at Guillaume at Bennelong were told last night.

This previously unreleased Nielsen data MAT 31 August 2010 was revealed to the who's who of the NSW Wine industry, who also witnessed iconic Hunter Valley wine family McGuigan take out the 2010 NSW Wine of the Year with their 2003 Tempus Two Copper Zenith Hunter Valley Semillon ($55) and Doug McWilliam receive the Graham Gregory Award for his commitment to NSW Wine industry.

Tiffany Nugan, Chair of the NSW Wine Strategy, spoke at the Awards and confirmed how significant this growth is. "It is so exciting to see how NSW Wine's sales growth is continuing to increase each year. This time last year NSW Wines sales within NSW grew by 12.8%, now they're growing by 22% showing the NSW Wine Strategy has serious momentum in the consumer's mind, with ever increasing growth each year."

"Even more exciting is where the growth is happening. 60% of NSW Wine sales were in the $12-20 price point, growing by 23%. And even more impressively, the over $20 category showed a fantastic 56% growth. This proves our State's premium wines are really making an impact on the consumer, who is not only appreciating them but coming back for more!"

"Last year the NSW Wine Strategy set a vision to double NSW Wine's distribution in our State within 5 years, to reach a similar representation level to states such as Victoria. If we continue to grow at 22% we will easily achieve this vision and NSW will be a place where visitors and locals alike will be able to enjoy a good, diverse and interesting representation of local wines in bottle shops and restaurants throughout the State."

Tiffany Nugan was applauded for the achievements of the NSW Wine Strategy since its launch in February 2008 as Nugan announced she would be stepping down as Chair of the NSW Wine Strategy next month, with her successor to be announced shortly. Under Nugan's leadership the NSW Wine Strategy was conceived to increase the representation of NSW Wine's within our State and has seen the launch of the NSW Wine brand; NSW Wine Week, a major consumer event held in March each year, with the 'Sydney Cellar Door' event attracting 20,000 people to Hyde Park to taste NSW Wines; NSW Wine Uncovered Magazine published each August including James Halliday's Top 100 NSW Wines; the revamping of the NSW Wine Awards and a public relations campaign that each year attracts for the NSW Wine industry media coverage valued in excess of $8 million. The achievements of the Strategy, however, are best demonstrated by the sales growth. In February 2008 when the Strategy was launched NSW Wines sales within our home State were $52.4 million, today they are $79.3 million, showing sales growth of $26.9 million in less than 3 years.

But the Award of the night went to Neil McGuigan for a standout Hunter Valley Semillon, the 2003 Tempus Two Copper Zenith Hunter Valley Semillon ($55). Neil is no stranger to awards nights having collected the title of both the 2009 International Wine and Spirit Competition "Winemaker of the Year" and 2009 International Wine Challenge "White Winemaker of the Year", but he was particularly proud to collect one of his home-state's highest honours on behalf of the McGuigan family's Hunter Valley brand, Tempus Two.

The NSW Wine Awards Chief Judge Huon Hooke, one of Australia's most experienced palates who judges several competitions each year both within Australia and internationally, supported the quality of the Tempus Two Semillon and all the Trophy winning wines at the Awards. Whilst commenting on the calibre of this year's judges and the stringent tasting procedure used to reach the final decisions he said, "I confidently and proudly commend the wines here tonight. These winners can hold their own at any wine show in the world."