Gov. McDonnell: Sales of VA Wine Reach New All-Time High

(NBC29) - During a visit to the Eastern Shore's Chatham Vineyards on his "This Commonwealth of Opportunity" tour, Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that sales of Virginia wine reached another all-time high in Fiscal Year 2013, increasing by more than 5 percent from FY2012.  Virginia wineries sold over 511,000 cases of wine in FY13 versus almost 485,000, the previous record high, in FY12 according to newly available sales figures compiled by the Virginia Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) and the Virginia Wine Marketing Office.  Since FY2010, when almost 415,000 cases were sold, sales of Virginia wines have increased by more than 23 percent.

 Speaking about the new sales record while at Chatham Vineyards, Governor McDonnell said, "At the beginning of my administration, I pledged to work with the Virginia wine industry to make the Commonwealth the East Coast capital for wine and wine tourism.  Today's announcement is further proof that we're well on our way to reaching that goal.  Sales have reached a new record high and tourism to our wineries continues to grow.  With the outstanding product being produced by our grape growers and wine makers, it's no surprise that more and more people are buying Virginia wines and experiencing our wineries and vineyards.  I'm pleased our administration's focus on promoting Virginia wines and wine tourism both here and abroad is helping the Commonwealth's wine industry to grow and expand.  From serving only Virginia wines at the Executive Mansion to marketing them during all domestic and international trade missions, we have taken every step possible to help create new sales and generate more jobs and economic opportunities all across the Commonwealth."

In-state sales of Virginia wine increased by almost 3 percent from FY12 to FY13, while wine sales through Virginia wineries increased by approximately 6 percent during the same period, indicating increased interest in visiting Virginia wineries.  Wine sales to distributors outside of Virginia increased by more than 60 percent from FY12 to FY13.  Today, Virginia wines are being sold in numerous states including Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Washington, D.C., one of the Virginia Wine Marketing Office's top strategic growth regions.  In addition, Virginia wineries sold more wine out of state, directly or through a wholesale distributor, and internationally during the most recent fiscal year. Specifically, these sales increased by 69 percent from FY12 to FY13.

Specific to exports, international sales of Virginia wines grew by more than 74 percent, increasing from just over 3,300 cases in FY12 to more than 5,800 in FY13.  A significant portion of the international sales were driven by new sales to China, an area where the McDonnell administration has focused its global marketing and export growth strategic plans. The first commercial sales of Virginia wines to mainland China were completed in FY12 and new export agreements have been reached since then, including several facilitated during Governor McDonnell's trade missions to China in 2011 and 2013.  Sales of Virginia wines to Great Britain and London, the world's largest wine import market, continued to grow during the last fiscal year as well.  The McDonnell administration and the Virginia Wine Marketing Office have focused heavily on marketing to this region as well.