Been a good week for New Zealand Wine with the news. When it comes to America, New Zealand's the only country to increase imports again Databank stats. This is sixteenth year in a row that we've gone growth on growth, on growth, on growth on growth. Anyway, and Vivo Wine founded Tim Lightbourne's back with us. Tim, very good morning to you.

Been a good week for New Zealand Wine with the news. When it comes to America, New Zealand's the only country to increase imports again Databank stats. This is sixteenth year in a row that we've gone growth on growth, on growth, on growth on growth. Anyway, and Vivo Wine founded Tim Lightbourne's back with us. Tim, very good morning to you.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Way are you in America? You sound like you're here in.

Way are you in America? You sound like you're here in.

New Zealand this time. Just came back about two weeks ago.

New Zealand this time. Just came back about two weeks ago.

Good The level of penetration in America, you know, a country of three hundred and twenty thirty million people. Are you just New York or Los Angeles? Are we sort of infiltrating Kansas and Delaware?

Good The level of penetration in America, you know, a country of three hundred and twenty thirty million people. Are you just New York or Los Angeles? Are we sort of infiltrating Kansas and Delaware?

Yeah, we're definitely inftrating a number of states. So if we look at Florida, for example, we're pretty huge over there. But yeah, right around the country actually, so not just New York or California.

Yeah, we're definitely inftrating a number of states. So if we look at Florida, for example, we're pretty huge over there. But yeah, right around the country actually, so not just New York or California.

What's the room do you reckon for growth?

What's the room do you reckon for growth?

But we are only three point six of the market, so you know, if we can double that, it's pretty interesting for US. Seven on blo Okay on major export is number three vrietals, So we're still only half the size of Chardoneay for example, sir, there's big opportunities.

But we are only three point six of the market, so you know, if we can double that, it's pretty interesting for US. Seven on blo Okay on major export is number three vrietals, So we're still only half the size of Chardoneay for example, sir, there's big opportunities.

And so because we don't do much shame in this country, does that hold us back if Chardonnau is the number one tipple?

And so because we don't do much shame in this country, does that hold us back if Chardonnau is the number one tipple?

Now, look, we track thirty six different grape for idels and seven on blanc is the only one in great So you know if you keep pumping seven, it's a big opportunity.

Now, look, we track thirty six different grape for idels and seven on blanc is the only one in great So you know if you keep pumping seven, it's a big opportunity.

Do you reckon that? Everarens? I've been asking this question for twenty five, if not thirty years. At some point the serving yon blanc bubble bursts? Do you reckon it?

Do you reckon that? Everarens? I've been asking this question for twenty five, if not thirty years. At some point the serving yon blanc bubble bursts? Do you reckon it?

Does not as far as I can see it. I met a lot of buyers last month, and you know when you walk into that room, they're all sort of you know, we're like a breath of fresh air, fresh air for New Zealand. Well, can you.

Does not as far as I can see it. I met a lot of buyers last month, and you know when you walk into that room, they're all sort of you know, we're like a breath of fresh air, fresh air for New Zealand. Well, can you.

Ask a lot and what about price? How do we handle on price? And we we're at the top end, don't we ish?

Ask a lot and what about price? How do we handle on price? And we we're at the top end, don't we ish?

Well, we're about fifteen to twenty, which is seen as premium over there.

Well, we're about fifteen to twenty, which is seen as premium over there.

Okay? And is that growing? So do we sell more or do we sell the same with more money?

Okay? And is that growing? So do we sell more or do we sell the same with more money?

That category is still growing, which is good for New zealant self. We just sort of keep pumping that fifteen to twenty and not sort of drop it down to that below fifteen, keep going.

That category is still growing, which is good for New zealant self. We just sort of keep pumping that fifteen to twenty and not sort of drop it down to that below fifteen, keep going.

Well, what's your vibe on tariffs?

Well, what's your vibe on tariffs?

I just don't know at the moment, so it's hard to plan for. What we do know is in twenty nineteen is a twenty five percent tariff from France, Spain and Germany, and that didn't destroy the industry. So no, you know, we'll we'll see what happens.

I just don't know at the moment, so it's hard to plan for. What we do know is in twenty nineteen is a twenty five percent tariff from France, Spain and Germany, and that didn't destroy the industry. So no, you know, we'll we'll see what happens.

See my theory told me. If I'm naive my argument, it's something like wine. At the top end of wine, you could put a little bit of something on the price a dollar and people would still buy it because they seek it out, they like it. Is that fair or not?

See my theory told me. If I'm naive my argument, it's something like wine. At the top end of wine, you could put a little bit of something on the price a dollar and people would still buy it because they seek it out, they like it. Is that fair or not?

Yeah? I think so. And if again, if we look back in what happened twenty nineteen, there was a slight price increase and it was absorbed. They stop. People still kept buying.

Yeah? I think so. And if again, if we look back in what happened twenty nineteen, there was a slight price increase and it was absorbed. They stop. People still kept buying.

Interesting. Hey, you know Graham Norton's in the country, don't.

Interesting. Hey, you know Graham Norton's in the country, don't.

You, Yeah, we did. We actually had him in Marlbury yesterday. We were picking grapes with him. He was tasting juice. He was having a great time.

You, Yeah, we did. We actually had him in Marlbury yesterday. We were picking grapes with him. He was tasting juice. He was having a great time.

There you go, good stuff, nice to catch up with the Tim Tim Lightbourn, who was the Inbibo wine founder tie up of course with Graham Norton, who happens to be here. But as I mentioned with then, and I'm glad to hear that theory of mine could be correct, because, as I mentioned earlier on in the program, Ferrari are simply increasing the price of the cars by ten percent, and so don't worry about the tariffs. The people who buy Ferraris have got another ten percent. We'll just whack that on the top. And Bob's your uncle, as simple as they For

There you go, good stuff, nice to catch up with the Tim Tim Lightbourn, who was the Inbibo wine founder tie up of course with Graham Norton, who happens to be here. But as I mentioned with then, and I'm glad to hear that theory of mine could be correct, because, as I mentioned earlier on in the program, Ferrari are simply increasing the price of the cars by ten percent, and so don't worry about the tariffs. The people who buy Ferraris have got another ten percent. We'll just whack that on the top. And Bob's your uncle, as simple as they For

More from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks that'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio

More from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks that'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio