New Zealand wine exports hit a record value in the year to the end of June despite a fall in volume, the industry organization announced Thursday.

"The small 2012 grape crop meant wine was in short supply and wineries took the opportunity to improve their positioning in the market. The end result was a 3 percent increase in the export value to a record 1.21 billion NZ dollars (948.79 million U.S. dollars), but 5 percent lower in export volume," New Zealand Winegrowers chair Steve Green said in a statement.

A record 345,000 tonnes of grape were harvested in 2013 after ideal grape growing conditions with a long dry summer providing well balanced, well ripened fruit, he said.

The 2013 crop was up 28 percent over the small 2012 harvest, but up only 5 percent from 2011.

"Winemakers have welcomed the more normal 2013 harvest as the improved supply will facilitate renewed export growth in the year ahead," said Green.

This had generated a renewed optimism, leading to the first signs of new vineyard plantings, but Green warned that experience showed that new plantings must be market-led and demand driven.

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