New Zealand wine exports to the United States have surpassed $500 million for the first time, according to the latest data from Statistics New Zealand.

The figures mark an increase of 11% in the last year, but Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers, said that the country has a goal to reach $2 billion worth of exports by 2020.

Fostering Growth

“New Zealand wine, especially Sauvignon Blanc, is very popular in the US and we expect consumer demand to continue to grow,” said Gregan.

“The new record level of wine exports into the world’s largest and most competitive market is an outstanding achievement for New Zealand wine exporters and testifies to the strong global demand for our wines.”

Wine is New Zealand's fifth-largest export category in terms of value, generating over $1.6 billion in the year ending March 2017.

Read more at source: ESM magazine