In the eight months in Wellington trading, Delegat's Group Ltd., New Zealand's biggest publicly traded wine maker, gained the most, subsequent to reporting a 61 percent surge in full-year profit.

In the year ended June 30, Delegat's net income was as much as NZ$31 million ($20 million), up from NZ$19.2 million a year earlier. This was confirmed by the Auckland-based company itself, which considered preliminary accounts.

Delegat's said: "Improved earnings were driven by strong fourth quarter sales and gains on foreign exchange contracts. A jump was seen by 4.9% in the stock."

Last year, Delegat's which owns the Oyster Bay brand, accounted for about 14 percent of New Zealand's wine exports. In order to maintain quality and prevent a glut amid good growing conditions and slowing export markets, growers pruned the 2009 crop heavily.

The company said: "Delegat's harvested 24,268 metric tons of grapes in the latest season, 2 percent less than forecast and 9 percent less than a year earlier. Profit before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization rose as much as 18 percent to NZ$65 million."