ITALY leads U.S. Wine Imports with AUSTRALIA second....by Philip S. Kampe

ITALY has maintained thr role of leading exporter of bottled wine in the U.S. for the first five months of the year. AUSTRALIA is second, according to the Italian Wine and Food Institute.

U.S. wine imports have experienced a DECREASE in Quantity and an INCREASE in Value, as compared to the same period in 2009.

Collectively, U.S. imports amounted to 3.3 million hectoliters, with a value of 1.3 billion dollars, which is equal to a decrease of 2.4% in quantity and a 6.5% increase in value compared to the same period in 2009.

The average original price per imported LITER of bottled wine was:

$4.92 for Italian, which was no change

$3.57 for Australian versus $3.51

$ 8.05 for French versus $9.39

$3.30 for Chilean versus $3.35

$3.88 for Argentina versus $3.89

In the group above, Italy was the only country with an increase in sales.

Sparkling wine and Prosecco were catagory winners with an increase of 36.1 % and 34.2 % in sales for the first five months of the year.

Imports from New Zealand increased by 35.3%.

Imports from Germany were up 8.5 %.

Imports from Spain increased by 26.5 %.

PHILIPS. KAMPE