U.S. wine exports increased in 2012

   U.S. wineries set a record for exports last year with $1.43 billion in revenues, up 2.6 percent on a yearly basis, and the third consecutive year that the value of wine exports has increased, according to the San Francisco-based Wine Institute.
   Ninety percent of those exports were from California.
   The volume of wine shipments reached 424.6 million liters or 47.2 million cases. The industry’s export revenue increased despite a 4.9 percent drop in shipment volume, measured in liters.
   The top markets for California wine are the European Union, followed by Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Vietnam, Mexico and South Korea.
   The Wine Institute is a trade association representing California wineries. It said a heavy marketing campaign, including in China, and a few new free trade agreements contributed to improved overseas sales. – Eric Kulisch