(Decanter) - Australian wine exports rose by 10% in value in 2018, despite a fall in the overall number of bottles shipped, said trade body Wine Australia. 

Australian wine exports to Northeast Asia, predominantly driven by China, rose by 19% in 2018 to A$1.23bn, Wine Australia said this week.

That helped Australian wine exports to rise by 10% globally versus 2017, to $2.82bn.

Bottled wine shipments reached $2.24bn, having risen by 7% in value during the year despite a 3% decline in the volume of bottles shipped, to 361m litres.

Wine Australia said that there was a trend towards premium wines after seeing the value of exports above $10-a-litre rise by 22% in 2018 to reach a record $895m.

Northeast Asia was easily the most valuable market for Australian wines last year, equalling the combined value of North America and Europe, in Australian dollar terms.