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NAPA - 04/30/04 - California wine exports surged by volume last year to 96 million gallons, the largest increase since 1990, as sales got a boost from the weaker dollar and growing demand overseas for modestly priced California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
 
Exports to 133 countries leapt 17% by value to $643 million in 2003. Both the value and volume figures are records despite intense competition from such big producers as Australia.
 
According to the Sacramento-based Wine Institute, California wine exports have been on a sharp upward trend for years and have approximately doubled since 1996.
 
The United Kingdom, historically California's largest export market, imported 31 million gallons of California wine last year, a 25% increase that made California the UK's third largest supplier, displacing Italy. France and Australia are first and second, although Australia is gaining on France.

Other top importers of California wine last year were Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland.
 
California's wine exports - mostly Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and generically bottled red and white table wines from the Central Valley - doubled last year to 7 million cases, 15% of the state's production, the Institute said.

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