The Duchess of Cambridge has doused rumours of another pregnancy with a glass of New Zealand’s finest red wine.

Speculation surrounding another royal baby started swirling after Prince William made a casual comment to a well-wisher during the couple’s New Zealand tour on Saturday.

When British expat Cynthia Read presented William with a hand-knitted merino wool blanket, he thanked her and joked “You might have to make another one soon!”

Ms Read said the way the Duke of Cambridge had delivered the comment made it seem like “he was dropping a hint, letting me in on a secret.”

Kate, who is touring New Zealand with William and baby Prince George, quickly quashed the gossip by taking a hearty sip of wine at the Amisfield Winery in Queenstown on Sunday.

The announcement of another royal pregnancy was not unlikely given that nine-month-old Prince George was conceived after the couple’s last overseas tour to South Asia in 2012.

The royals have been touring New Zealand for a week, enjoying a variety of activities from sailing to jet boat-riding.