The year 2009 was a bad one for Bordeaux wine, the most prestigious French wine which saw a drop in exports bringing it to the level it had seen three years ago. According to the data released in Paris, the UK and US have drastically cut the amount of Bordeaux they buy - in contrast with the Chinese and Japanese, who are still indulging their taste for it. Bernard Farges, president of the Bordeaux union of wine growers, said that between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009 exports dropped by 16% on average - as seen in Germany and Belgium, which are traditionally importers of the wine. Exports to the United States fell by 23% and to the United Kingdom by 25%. China instead imported more Bordeaux, with a rise of 62%.