US Wine Exports Set New Record in 2012 New figures show U.S. wine exports grew for the third consecutive year in 2012, setting a record of $1.43 billion in revenue. The San Francisco-based Wine Institute released the figures Thursday and says 90 percent of those exports were from California. The European Union remained the top market for California wines, accounting for about 34 percent of all sales. But the state's wineries also saw significant growth in Canada and Asia. Sales in China reached $74 million in 2012, up 18 percent from the previous year. South Korea, at $16 million, was up 26 percent. In Canada, the second largest market for California wines, sales reached $434 million, up 14 percent.