Provence Rosé Exports to the U.S. Jump 40%

For the 10th consecutive year, exports of rosé wines from Provence to the United States have grown at double-digit rates. In 2013, exports from the world’s rosé capital climbed 40% on both volume and value. This comes on the heels of a 41% rise in export volumes a year ago and a 62% increase the year before, according to the French customs agency and the CIVP/Provence Wine Council.

The French customs report is backed up by U.S. retail sales data released this month by research firm Nielsen, which shows the entire rosé category to be on a sustained upward trend, with the premium imported rosé segment seeing a 48% increase on dollars in 2013.

“Exports of Provence rosé to the United States show no signs of slowing down, and neither does consumer demand for rosé from Provence, the gold standard,” said Julie Peterson of the CIVP/Provence Wine Council’s U.S. trade office. “With these increased volumes flowing into the country, American consumers are also finding a wider variety of flavor profiles from producers across Provence.”

Viewed together, the export and sales numbers tell a story of rosé growth that continues to far outpace the U.S. wine market as a whole. Provence Wines to Be Presented in Four U.S. Cities in March. Media and wine industry professionals will have the opportunity to sample wines from as many as 33 Provence wineries in March as part of the “Provence in the City” 2014 spring tasting tour. Details are at www.winesofprovence.com/events.

The schedule is as follows:

Boston: Monday, March 3 – winemakers will be present

Chicago: Tuesday, March 4 – winemakers will be present

San Francisco: Thursday, March 6 – winemakers will be present

New York: Monday, March 10 (media only) – winemakers will not be present

Provence, the oldest winegrowing area in France, is the world’s largest rosé specialty region, with rosé making up over 88% of Appellation d’Origine Protégée wine production.