The US to Become the World's Leading Wine Consumer by 2010

Within three years, Americans will consume nearly 766 million gallons, or 3.8 billion bottles of wine, making the US the largest wine consuming country in the world, ahead of Italy and France -- this according to the in-depth International Wine and Spirit Record (IWSR) December 2006 study commissioned by VINEXPO.

The study of the US wine and spirits market is part of VINEXPO's global research project in conjunction with IWSR in 28 wine producing countries and 114 wine and spirit consuming markets. VINEXPO is the leading international wine and spirits exhibition, which is being held in Bordeaux , France from June 17th - 21st, 2007.

The consumption rate of still and sparkling wine in the US from 2001 - 2005 has seen a steady rise of an average yearly increase of 4%. In 2005, consumption per capita (of legal drinking age) was 3.09 gallons per year, with an expected rise to 3.25 gallons by 2010. A previous IWSR/VINEXPO study predicted that the US would become the leading global consumer by 2008. However, due to a projected slowdown of the American economy, including a drop in the real estate market, the 2008 presidential elections and higher oil prices the forecast has been pushed back to 2010.