The strong euro has hurt the export of German wine to its two most important markets, the United States and Britain, the German Wine Institute said Thursday.

The value of exports to the United States fell 2.1 percent to €99 million (US$143.43 million) from July 2007 to July 2008, the institute said. And exports to the second most important market, Britain, were down 4.9 percent to €83 million (US$120.25 million), it said.

The institute blamed the strength of the 15-nation euro, which has hit all-time highs this year against both the pound and the dollar.

But the institute said the value of German wine exports was up overall by 2 percent to €394 million (US$570.83 million), thanks to increases in countries like Russia and China(53%).