American Grape & Wine Facts

Grape growing contributes to the U.S. economy in diverse ways. It generates jobs, exports, tax revenues, tourism and, of course, outstanding wines, juices, raisins and table grapes. These products are healthy and nutritious.

Grapes are the highest value fruit crop in the nation and the sixth largest crop overall. Grapes account for about 30% of the value of all fruits grown in the United States. Grapes processed in agricultural areas for wine and juice now make up 70% of the entire national crop compared with about 30% in 1969. The federal government does not subsidize grape growing. Wineries are typically owned by grape growers and located on farms and vineyards. This processing adds tremendous farm-based value to the crop, varying from three to more than ten fold the value of the fruit. The national economic impact of the American grape crop and its products has been calculated at over $160 billion/year.

The nation’s top grape producing states are (in production order): California, Washington, New York, and Pennsylvania. The order is somewhat different when one considers value of the grape crop, Oregon which can boast the highest per ton value of grapes, places third. California produces almost 90 percent of the volume. As vineyards continue to expand, so do the number of producing wineries. Today, there are almost 5,000 wineries in all fifty states.

Wine production, which typically adds value of approximately $2-$4 for each $1 of farm gate value, is closely integrated with grape growing operations. Wineries with tasting rooms contribute another $4-$10 per $1 of farm gate value to the rural economy by selling their wine directly to consumers.

Wineries are almost always located in rural areas, near the source of the grapes. The combination of vineyards and wineries provides a stable, year-round, and flexible base of rural employment. Winery tourism is very popular and contributes significantly to the rural economy. In many cases state tourism departments feature their wineries as a major tourist attraction. The economic activity directly generated by the grape and wine industry in turn creates additional jobs, wages and economic activity as services are purchased and wages are spent. In aggregate, grapes and its products contribute about $162 billion to the U.S. economy, along with 1.1 million jobs, which account for $33 billion in wages and $17 billion in state and local tax revenues.

More facts

• Over thousands of years, humans have honed the art of wine grape growing through experimentation and technological advancements. It takes years of investment and meticulous attention to detail before a vineyard yields great grapes.

• The U.S. accounts for 9.9% of the world grape production (3rd after Italy and Spain) accomplished on only 4.8% of the world’s vineyard acreage.

• The U.S. represents about 10% of world wine production (4th after France, Italy, and Spain).

• The U.S. is 3rd in wine consumption but only 60th in per capita consumption.

• Exports of American table grapes, grape juice products, raisins, and wine, amounting to $1.58 billion in 2006, are the largest horticultural export from this country and have grown significantly in the last few years. Exports of American wine in 2005 at $675 million place the U.S. as 7th worldwide. About a third of the raisin crop is exported.

• The California wine industry's impact on the economy is over $48 billion and is responsible for over 200,000 jobs (2005).

• One ton of wine grapes can produce 178 gallons of juice.

• One barrel of wine makes about 20 cases, or 1200 glasses.

• A ton of grapes equals 720 bottles of wine, or 60 cases.

• One vine annually produces between four and six bottles of wine, or 20 and 30 glasses.

• Each bottle of wine contains about 2.8 pounds of grapes; each 5-ounce glass of wine is a little over half a pound.

• A case of wine contains 12 - .750L bottles.

• A case of wine is 2.3 gallons or 9 liters.