Study: US wine industry pumped $219.9 billion into economy

The U.S. wine industry pumped $219.9 billion into the U.S. economy last year, primarily from California, according to a study released Wednesday by WineAmerica, the National Association of American Wineries.

The wine industry supports 1.74 million American jobs, according to the study conducted by John Dunham & Associates of New York. It identified ?10,236 wineries in the United States, located in all 50 states, and 677,629 acres of vineyards in 49 states.

Nearly 43 million tourists visited wineries last year, spending $17.6 billion, according to the study.

The study sought to measure the direct and indirect economic impacts of the production, distribution and sale of American wine. California is by far the largest grape and wine-producing state, accounting for about 85 percent of the country’s total output.

“Wine is an all-American art form produced in all 50 states, and the ultimate value-added product which preserves precious agricultural land, provides American jobs, attracts tourists, generates taxes and enhances the quality of life,” WineAmerica President Jim Trezise said in a statement.

More information is available at www.wineamerica.org.

Press Democrat staff