(SND) - Italian wine exports to the U.S. rose 5.5% by value, even as volumes dipped 0.9%, in the first eight months of 2014, according to data from the Italian Food & Wine Institute. The U.S. market’s largest imported wine region, Italy exported a total of 1,683,770 hectoliters (18.7 million cases) to the U.S. from January through August, compared to 1,698,320 hectoliters (18.9 million cases) over the same period last year. Value, meanwhile, jumped from $869.7 million to $917.7 million.

Sparkling wine, in particular, helped drive much of Italy’s progress in the U.S., where Italian offerings account for more than 50% of the market’s total sparkling wine category. The Italian sparkling wine segment grew 17.3% by volume to nearly 2.8 million cases, and 21.3% by value to $120.8 million, during the eight-month period.