New Zealand’s Winery Comes to Kazakhstan
A small New-Zealand’s producer is taking first steps in Central Asia. Stuff.co.nz reports that the family-run Alexander Vineyard has sent its first shipment of pinot noir to Kazakhstan. Owner of the winery, which already works in Japan, Russia, Canada and the U.S., Michael Finucane says exporting wine to Kazakhstan was a first for New Zealand.
In Kazakhstani market - apart from the local wines - there are lots of mainstream wines from France, Georgia, Germany or Chile that can be found in every supermarket, and there is a rapidly growing (at least in rich Almaty, Astana and Atyrau) market of selected wines and “elite” groceries. Will the Alexander’s six cases of pinot noir be a competitive and profitable enough? Hard to say indeed.
New Zealand ships goods worth just $3.6 million to Kazakhstan - roughly 0.01 per cent of all exports.
on January 10th, 2008 at 4:30 am
I was interested to read your post about the New Zealand wine exporter, Arseny. Myself and an associate who is from Kazakhstan but now lives in New Zealand, are interested in developing business between New Zealand and Kazakhstan. We feel there is huge potential for devlopment of the trading relationship between the two countries.
I would be interested in communicating with anyone in Kazakhstan about this.
on January 13th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Hi Tim! You can contact me via email director (at) rating-kz.info
I would be glad to be of any help!
on January 17th, 2008 at 8:46 am
I’m from Auckland NZ and I’ve been living/working in Atyrau for the past year (and loving it). I’m looking forward to going to the supermarket to see if I can spot the NZ wine! I usually buy Chilean here.
on January 17th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Hi from Martinborough,
I’m the owner of Alexander Vineyard and produce the wine with the help of my wife, Roz as winemaker. Somebody just contacted me from Kazakhstan enquiring about our wine and included this link.
A correction - we sent 20 cases not 6 as reported by Stuff.co.nz and from the interest generated I’m confident we’ll be sending more in the future. The importers are Kraft Foods in Almaty.
Hope you enjoy our wine.
Cheers
Mike Finucane