California Business Minute™

Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.

California wine sales in the US hit a record 457 million gallons last year,
a  two percent increase over 2006, according to the Wine Institute.

Strong gains in the sale of premium wine fueled the sales gain and the retail
value of shipments in the country increased 6 percent to $18.9 billion, according
to the year-end summary by the Gomberg-Fredrikson Report.

Total California winery shipments both in the U.S. and abroad increased 3 percent
to 554 million gallons last year.  "Strong consumer interest, along with growing
retailer and restaurant support and more direct-to-consumer sales, is resulting in
wider distribution and selection of California wines," said Robert P. Koch, president
and CEO of the Wine Institute.

The U.S. wine market has grown 14 consecutive years, increasing 66 percent by volume
between 1993 and 2007, according to wine industry consultant Jon Fredrikson. "Though
the economy is slowing, wine is gaining traction among American adult consumers, and
it is likely that wine consumption will continue to expand over the next decade,"
Fredrikson said.

I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.

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