Wine Industry Report

Wines under Bullas, Jumilla and Yecla appellations have multiplied the value of their sales in the US eightfold in the past five years
11/25/2006
Sales of wine under Bullas, Jumilla and Yecla Designation of Origin to the US generated revenues worth 9.9 million euro in 2005, eight times the figure only five years ago. Over the last year, Murcia appellations sold 2 million litres of wine abroad.
Representatives from these appellations’ governing bodies acknowledge that “even though EU countries are still our major buyers, the US is currently our winemakers’ main target since it is a market that is always open to new experiences”.

The figures were published in the opening speech for a seminar on ‘Flavors of the Mediterranean’ an event organised under the ‘Worlds of Flavor’ fair. Considered to be one of the US’s most prestigious culinary events, this year’s edition was devoted exclusively to Spain. It was held on November 2 – 4 at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, California.

Wines from different Murcian appellations appear to be meeting considerable success at a number of international events, including the most recent ‘Wine Challenge’ held in Florida, where three wines from Jumilla came home with an award. At the ‘Vancouver International Wine Festival’ a wine under Yecla DO was rated best out of 624 entrants in the ‘New Wines from the Old World’ category.

[Source: Wines of Spain]