France's Wine Industry has Record Year in 2007

France's wine and spirit industry scored record exports in 2007, with triple digit surges in China and an exuberant performance from the star of French wines, Champagne. France sent nearly 9.3 billion euros, or about $13.8 billion worth of wines and spirits abroad in 2007, an increase of nearly 7 percent year-on-year, the French Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters announced. Growth in China more than doubled to nearly 247 million euros ($364 million) worth of alcohol. The countr of 1.3 billion people, and a growing middle class discovering a taste for wine and already fond of cognac, was the 11th largest market by value for French wines and spirits in 2007.