A very large Sauvignon Blanc harvest is hurting Marlborough wine makers' pockets

BusinessDesk reports the harvest yielded 410-thousand tonnes, 31 percent more than last year's.

The Marlborough Grape Growers Co-operative notes market pricing's fallen as a result, and this is reflected in reduced tonnage pricing to owners.

The large harvest comes as the sector's been under pressure to de-stock, after building inventories during the pandemic.

Terra Vitae Chairman Joe Ferraby says it's ironic that their best sauvignon blanc vines produced a record high 20 tonnes per hectare, despite efforts to keep the crop lighter.