Wine Exports from U.S. Increased in 2008

According to a press release from the Wine Institute, the United States exported over one billion dollars in wine in 2008.  This is the first time that exports have ever reached the one billion dollar mark.  Exports have been steadily increasing from year to year for the last 15 years starting in 1994 as this graph shows.

The 2008 numbers marked a 6% increase over 2007 and are nearly double that of six years ago.  

A large portion of the credit goes to California winemakers as they are responsible for 90% of all the wine exported from the U.S.  Half of the exports are headed to the European Union, which accounts for $486 million in 2008.  Canada and Japan are among the other largest importers of American wine.  Linsey Gallagher with the Wine Instutute states that wine is California's second largest export based on value.  While the United States is fourth on the list of wine producing countries by volume, the United States only accounts for 6% of the world exports of wine.  This combined with the continuing growth in the industry, particularly in California, means that there is a great future ahead for American wines.  

Joseph Rollo is currently working with governments here and abroad to reduce high taxes and other barriers through the implementation of the 2006 EU-US Wine Trade Agreement.  The hope is that California and U.S. wine exports can continue to grow through 2009 and in upcoming years.  Also, to increase the 6% world share, which they now enjoy.  This will be difficult with a struggling economy, however, success has been seen in places like the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, which encourages everyone that progress can still be made.  Once the economy starts to recover then there are potentials for the California wineries to be a major player with the top wine exporters of the world.

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