California wine shipments fell in 2009 for the first time in 16 years as purchases in the U.K., the biggest export market, plunged during the global recession, according to researcher Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates. The global shipment volume of wine made in California dropped by 1.6 percent, to 236 million cases, according to 11 months of data and December estimates from Jon Fredrikson, who heads the wine research firm in Woodside. Shipments to the U.K. plunged 36 percent because of the recession, high taxes, rising duties on imports and the drop in the value of the pound, which boosted California wine prices, Fredrikson said. Shipments in the U.S. fell 0.4 percent. Revenue for California wineries, whose biggest product is Chardonnay, probably fell more than shipment volumes as shoppers sought out cheaper bottles, he said. Total shipments out of California wineries, including bottles produced abroad, increased 1.8 percent to 257.4 million cases, according to Fredrikson. Wine shipments throughout the U.S., including American and imported wines, grew by 2.1 percent, said Fredrikson.

CHIPS

Santa Clara-based Nvidia Corp. led a gain in computer chipmakers after the Semiconductor Industry Association said global sales fell less than the group had expected last year and Broadpoint AmTech upgraded the industry. Nvidia rallied 7.7 percent to close at $16.57 after Broadpoing raised the

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industry's rating to "overweight" from "neutral." Santa Clara-based Advanced Micro Devices Inc. also climbed 7 percent to $7.98.

Banking

San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Co. announced plans to double commercial lending and revenue from fees in California over the next five years. Five executives will lead the expansion at the commercial-banking unit, which provides loans and services to companies with annual sales of $10 million to $500 million, the bank said Monday. Wells Fargo makes commercial loans through the wholesale banking group, where fourth-quarter net income rose 69 percent to $1 billion, from $598 million in the third quarter.

Charity

Following donations of more than $100,000 to fund schools in Haiti in 2009, San Ramon-based Reply.com and its employees have contributed more than $60,000 to Haitian relief and reconstruction efforts to aid schools and earthquake victims of this month's devastating earthquake.

Compiled from staff and wire reports. Got Bay Area business news? Reach Drew Voros at 925-943-8099 or dvoros@bayareanewsgroup.com.