USA now world's biggest wine consumer
The USA has overtaken France as the biggest wine-drinking nation in the world, according to new research.
The USA has overtaken France as the biggest wine-drinking nation in the world, according to new research.
Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates, the American wine consultancy, said wine volumes in the US rose 2% to 329.7 million cases last year, compared to 320.6 million for France.
The increase of 330 million cases was achieved despite a "recovering but still fragile economy", the company said.
California wine shipments to the US market rose by 2.9 million cases, or 1.5%, to nearly 200 million cases. California exports overseas also did well, growing 4.4%.
Imported wines again grew at a faster rate than American wines, rising by nearly 4 million cases, or 3.9%, to around 105 million cases.
Gomberg said: "In comparison to generally weak 2009 results and boosted by new (often lower priced) brands or line extensions and discounts, roughly two thirds of all California wine producers reported shipment increases in 2010."
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