Oregon wine acreage increases despite recession

SALEM, Ore. -- Wine grape acreage and wine sales in Oregon are growing despite the recession.

Amity Vineyards winemaker Myron Redford, left, looks at a small group of budding grapes.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service says total grape acreage grew by 1,570 acres in 2008, the third consecutive year of record plantings.

The dollar value of wine sales in the state surged more than 15 percent, to roughly $240 million -- outpacing last year's sales growth of about 9 percent.

Kara Olmo, chair of the Oregon Wine Board, says Oregon wine brands have been successfully penetrating new markets, a major reason for the increase in sales.

The state had 395 wineries in 2008, about 7 percent more than in 2007 and 13 percent more than in 2006.