NEWS OF GRAPES AND WINES IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
Virginia Wine Industry Impact Doubles
ichmond, Va.—How much does the wine industry contribute to the Com- monwealth of Virginia each year? Almost three-quarters of a billion dollars, in terms of economic impact, according to a new study. The figure has more than doubled in the past five years, from $362 million to $747 million.
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While unemployment soared nationally, in Virginia the number of wine industry jobs
R $362M $747M
increased from 3,162 to 4,753 between 2005 and 2010.
The economic impact study for 2010, up- dated in February 2012, was performed by St. Helena, Calif.-based Frank, Rimerman
& Co., which conducted the 2005 study under its former name, MKF Research. Most industry growth came from the
addition of small wineries producing less than 10,000 gallons per year. As wineries increased in quantity, so did the number of tourists visiting them, the number of employ- ees and the amount of wages paid. More than 80% of the wine produced in Virginia came (Continued on page 69)
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