BERKELEY -- Robust marketing and a weak dollar led to a sharp jump last year in U.S. wine sales abroad, industry observers said.
Preliminary figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department and reported Friday by the San Francisco-based Wine Institute (www.wineinstitute.org) showed wine exports were up 28 percent from the previous year, totaling $794 million in winery revenues.
About 95 percent of wine exports are from California.
By volume, the increase was 29 percent, to 119 million gallons.
...
The top overseas market for California wine was the United Kingdom. Export revenues to that country were up 41 percent, to $299 million, and volume was up 20 percent, to 38 million gallons.
...
Other top overseas markets for U.S. wine in 2004 were Canada, at $124 million; the Netherlands, at $86 million; Japan at $82 million; and Germany at $27 million.
Preliminary figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department and reported Friday by the San Francisco-based Wine Institute (www.wineinstitute.org) showed wine exports were up 28 percent from the previous year, totaling $794 million in winery revenues.
About 95 percent of wine exports are from California.
By volume, the increase was 29 percent, to 119 million gallons.
...
The top overseas market for California wine was the United Kingdom. Export revenues to that country were up 41 percent, to $299 million, and volume was up 20 percent, to 38 million gallons.
...
Other top overseas markets for U.S. wine in 2004 were Canada, at $124 million; the Netherlands, at $86 million; Japan at $82 million; and Germany at $27 million.
Comment