CALIFORNIA VINTNERS INCREASED THEIR SHIPMENTS IN 2004 FOR AN ESTIMATED $15 BILLION WORTH OF WINE TO THE DOMESTIC MARKET. THE SAN FRANCISCO-BASED WINE INSTITUTE, RELEASED THE FIGURES TUESDAY, SHOWING CALIFORNIA WINERIES SHIPPED 428 MILLION GALLONS OF WINE TO U.S. MARKETS LAST YEAR. THAT'S A 3 PERCENT INCREASE OVER 2003. RED WINES EDGED OUT WHITE WINES IN TERMS OF CONSUMER PREFERENCE. EXPERTS SAY THE INCREASE IN WINE SALES ARE DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS INCLUDING A RECOVERING ECONOMY, SUPER VALUE WINES, INCREASED WINE CONSUMPTION, AND GOOD REVIEWS FOR CALIFORNIA VINTAGES. AN EARLIER REPORT ALSO SHOWED AN INTERNATIONAL INCREASE IN U.S. WINE SALES OF 28 PERCENT IN 2004. ABOUT 95 PERCENT OF THAT WINE CAME FROM CALIFORNIA