(WB) - One of the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. wine market continues to enjoy record-setting sales growth as direct-to-consumer sales grew by 12% to surpass $3 billion in 2018.

The sales growth comes with a 2.4% increase in the average bottle price of wines shipped, indicating consumers’ willingness to buy wine at higher price points. Total shipments by volume in 2018 came to more than 6 million, which is a 9% increase over the previous year.

Those are two key findings in the 2019 Direct to Consumer Wine Shipping Report put together each year by Sovos and Wines Vines Analytics. The report is based on an algorithm developed by Wines Vines Analytics to leverage the company’s database of more than 10,000 wineries in the United States. By drawing on anonymous shipping data from Sovos, the annual report — and regular Wine Industry Metrics reports by Wines Vines Analytics — provides the industry’s most accurate numbers on direct-to-consumer wine shipments.