California Wine - Little Known Facts you Probably Didn't Know About California Wine

California wine is a massive help to the state. In fact,California dominates this premium wine market, and
a recent report by the Wine Institute and Californiathe state exported 541 million gallons of the drink last
Association of Winegrape Growers at the Worldyear. Wine is increasingly becoming an affordable
Trade Club in San Francisco noted that the Californialuxury product, and people of all ages and
wine industry has grown nearly 40 percent over thebackgrounds are running to pick it up by the case.
last four years. This growth represents an annualFor thirteen consecutive years, there has been
impact of more than $51 billion on the state'sgrowth in the United States wine market. More and
economy.more food and liquor stores are beginning to notice
Considering that the United States economy hasthis trend, and have dramatically increased their
been partially fueled by $162 billion in wine, grape andselection as a result. Even champagnes and sparkling
grape products last year, California's contribution iswines, which accounts for approximately 5 percent
nothing to sneeze at. In fact, 449 million gallons ofof all wine sales in America, have begun to gain
California wine was sold to American consumers inpopularity.
2006.In the end, California wine accounts for 95 percent of
Although the volume growth of the actual wine wasall United States wine exports. Nearly half of these
only 2 percent last year, the total retail value ofexports go to Europe, although Canadian exports are
California wine sales increased 8 percent. Thisincreasing in volume, too. Wine exports to Canada
increase is attributed to an increase in the demand ofhave increased almost 30 percent by value. Indeed,
premium wines. For reference, premium wines areCalifornia wine is a serious business with a definite
any wine priced $7 and up.impact on the American economy.