SAN FRANCISCO, CA, United States (UPI) -- California`s wine growers want officials to know they add $51.8 billion to the state`s economy and $103 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

The Wine Institute and California Association of Winegrape Growers said Friday in a newly released report that the state`s vintners create 759,000 jobs in the United States and billions in economic activity, while generating significant tourism, trade, taxes and revenue.

The two groups commissioned the 'economic impact' report to provide 'solid data on the state`s industry to use in public policy discussions with state and federal legislators and other key officials' as they consider farm bills and agricultural subsidies.

California, which has about 500,000 acres of vineyards, is the fourth largest wine producer in the world after France, Italy and Spain, producing 225 million cases in 2005. The 185 million cases sold in the United States had an estimated retail value of $16.5 billion.

'The state`s wine industry is clearly an asset to the economic vitality of California and the (United States).'

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive