US overtakes UK as our top wine market

The United States has become Australia's number one export market for wine in dollar terms, surpassing the traditional British market.

The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation says the return of the US to the number one position is the result of export volumes increasing there, and declining in the UK.
The US was one of Australia's biggest buyers of wine back in 2003 and 2004.

Overall, for the 12 months ending May 2009, the volume of wine exports only increased by 1 per cent, while value fell 14 per cent to $2.4 billion.