NZ earthquake, wine
Damage from the New Zealand earthquake won't hit wine supplies, says trade body.
(Image credit: Reuters / Alamy)

New Zealand's recent Kaikoura earthquake ruined enough wine to fill more than five million bottles, according to new industry estimates. See a report below, alongside a video of cracks in the landscape caused by the quake.

Marlborough lost just over 2% of its annual production in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand two weeks ago, according to trade body New Zealand Winegrowers.

Marlborough produces ‘well over’ 200 million litres of wine annually, it said.

A fifth of the region’s tank capacity was damaged to varying degrees, NZ Winegrowers said.

It said that there was, however, a sense of relief overall.

‘While this is frustrating, this is not a major concern as vintage 2016 was a near record one,’ said the body’s CEO, Philip Gregan. ‘This means there is plenty of wine available to continue our market growth.’

He added, ‘The process of tank repair is already underway but it is going to be a big task which will continue for many months.’

Striking photos of the Kaikoura earthquake’s epicentre in North Canterbury show a huge crack in the landscape. It is reported to have raised seabeds by more than a metre in the area. See video footage below.

The quake killed two people and injured nearly 60, according to local media reports.

An earthquake that hit Christchurh in New Zealand in February 2011 was reported to have killed 185 people, with hundreds more injured.

Video credits: Youtube / GNS Science

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Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.