Family-owned New Zealand winemaker, Giesen Wines is the only New Zealand company to be named on a prestigious new list of the fastest growing wine and spirits brands in the US.

The accolade, from M. Shanken Communications, Inc, an influential US news service covering the global spirits, wine and beer business, celebrates the US market’s most promising wine and spirits brands and is based on multi-year sales growth and performance in the market.

As reported by Scoop, the inclusion of Giesen on the list recognises the company’s consistent growth in 2013-2014, 66 per cent growth in 2015, and continuing momentum this year.

16 imported wine brands received the award, dominated by 14 from France and Italy, with only one Spanish brand and Giesen Wines.

Established in 1981, Giesen Wines is run by the three Giesen brothers, Theo, Alex and Marcel Giesen. Innovation, sustainability, and family leadership are the cornerstones of the company, now ranked among the top 10 New Zealand wine producers by volume, with distribution in 40 countries.

Giesen began exporting to the US in 1997 and its sales there are now growing faster than to Australia, traditionally its biggest international market. This follows the national trend.

The US market is the fastest growing, most significant export market for the New Zealand wine industry, accounting for 29 per cent of wine exported. This is followed by 27 per cent to the UK and 25 per cent to Australia. In the year to July 2016, New Zealand exported seven million nine-litre cases of wine to the US, up 16 per cent on the previous corresponding period.