A Canterbury wine company fined 1.7 million dollars - won't be able to pay up

Southern Boundary Wines has been sentenced in the High Court in Christchurch on dozens of charges under the Wine Act - along with three staff members.

The company shipped 330 thousand litres of Sauvignon Blanc to overseas buyers - with incorrect labelling relating to year, origin or blends.

Justice Rachel Dunningham says the company's now in liquidation - and she acknowledges there's no money left to pay the fine.

But she says she needed to set an example for others in the industry.

Wine grapes are currently New Zealand's largest horticultural crop - and exports bring in 1.3 billion dollars each year.