America Now Number 1 in Wine Consumption

U.S. residents now make up the largest wine market in the world, consuming 13 percent of all that’s produced globally, according to market analyst Jon Fredrikson.

Fredrikson told executives at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium this month that U.S. production increased 2 percent last year to help meet demand.

Bulk-wine imports from Argentina helped slake the thirsts of U.S. consumers, followed by Chile and Australia. New Zealand has boosted its planted acreage by almost a quarter and is expected to become a bigger player, especially with production of sauvignon blanc.
Wine consumption is decreasing in France and Italy, so increasingly foreign producers are aiming for the U.S. market.
Overseas wines now account for 35 percent of sales in the United States.
Fredrikson said that consumers were driven to cheaper imports by grape shortages in the U.S. in 2010 and 2011 that resulted in higher prices for domestic wines.

Source: Associated Press -