France set for new record for wine and spiritis exports

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

PARIS (AFP) — French exports of wines and spirit are set to hit a new record in 2007, raking in more than nine billion euros (13 billion dollars), the head of the exporters' federation said Friday.

Cognac and champagne are leading the boom in sales, Philippe Casteja, president of the federation of exporters of wines and spirits in France, told AFP.

Results from the first 10 months of sales showed that 2007 will be an "exceptional year", with total exports "valued at between 9.2 and 9.5 billion euros," said Casteja.

France sold 8.74 billion euros worth of wines and spirits in 2006, and sales for 2007 have already reached 7.6 billion euros, up 9 percent from the same period in 2006.

Cognac sales are up 16.9 percent from 2006 and champagne 14.5 percent,...