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SAN FRANCISCO - 02/21/05 - Aggressive marketing and weak dollar are credited with lifting California wine exports to record levels in 2004, according to the Bay Area-based Wine Institute.

Preliminary figures released by the US Commerce Department (DOC) showed the state's wine exports climbed by a 28% percent from the previous year to more than $794 million in overseas sales, the trade group said.
 
By volume, the increase was 29%, to 119 million gallons.
 
The top overseas market for California wine was the United Kingdom. Export revenues to that country were up 41% to $299 million with volume up 20% to 38 million gallons.
 
"California wine had another fantastic year in the UK," John McLaren, the Wine Institute's United Kingdom director, said in a news release.
 
One in seven bottles consumed in the United Kingdom comes from California, he said.

According to the DOC, other top global markets for US wine in 2004 were Canada ($124 million); the Netherlands ($86 million); Japan ($82 million); and Germany ($27 million).
 
Wine Institute International Director Joseph Rollo said California's wineries are "reaping the benefits of their hard work and marketing efforts of the last few years and establishing brands in major markets," he said crediting the weaker dollar with helping the state's wineries be more "price competitive" in overseas markets.

Currently, about 95% of US wine exports are from California, the DOC said.

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