As volume continues to slide, Aus wine sees premium progress in US

While New Zealand wine continues to thrive in the US, Australia has seen little let-up in its U.S. struggles. However, the ailing category is seeing a silver lining in the premium tier. Plagued in recent years by both oversupply issues and a rising domestic currency, Australian shipments to the U.S. slipped nine per cent to just over 17.8 million cases in 2014. But much like top imported wine player Italy, the category has benefited from trading-up trends, with declines skewing heavily toward Australia’s low-end and bulk segments and higher-end wines demonstrating gains.