Tiny winery breaks into Kazakhstan

While many vineyards in the boutique wine town struggle to stay afloat after devastating growing seasons, one small producer is reaping the benefits of a growing export market.

The family-run Alexander Vineyard has become one of the first in New Zealand to tap into the Central Asian republic, sending its first shipment of pinot noir - all six cases.

Owner Michael Finucane said exporting wine to Kazakhstan was a first for Martinborough, if not for New Zealand.

Most of the vineyard's tiny production of just 1000 cases a year is sent overseas, mainly to Japan, Russia, Canada and the United States.

Mr Finucane said the growth in international markets meant the vineyard would soon have to begin a new planting programme to meet demand.

"We lost 96 per cent of the harvest but we are recovering now and the kind early summer this year has given us a really good fruit-set, so things are looking far better now and we will have the new plantings in soon."

New Zealand ships goods worth just $3.6 million to Kazakhstan - roughly 0.01 per cent of all exports.

- © Fairfax NZ News