California Wine Export Program

Report Highlights: The EU is the world’s largest wine producer, consumer, exporter and importer. Total EU-27 wine production in 2007/08 dropped 9 percent due to adverse weather, especially in France and Italy. EU exports grew by over 25 percent in 2006/07, with Russia and the U.S. as major markets. While total EU imports keep rising, shipments from the U.S. are increasingly represented by bulk wine bottled locally for distribution within the EU. Last December the EU passed a major reform of the wine sector.