According to the Wine Institute, the United States has surpassed France as the world’s largest wine-consuming nation in 2010, with wine shipments to the U.S. from California, other states and foreign producers growing 2% from the previous year to nearly 330 million cases, a record high for the industry. The estimated retail value of these sales was up $30 billion, up 4% from 2009.
“U.S. wine market conditions remain highly competitive, but we are optimistic that this growth trend will continue. Americans are increasingly interested in a lifestyle with wine and food, demonstrated by the presence of wineries in all 50 states and 17 consecutive years of growth in the U.S. wine consumption,” said Rober P. Koch, President and CEO of Wine Institute.
California wine accounted for a 61% volume share of the total U.S. wine market with sales at 199.6 million cases, up 1% from the previous year. The total wine shipments from California to all markets in the U.S and abroad were 241.8 million cases, up 2% from the previous year.
“This year we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the CBS TV 60 minutes news broadcast on French Paradox news report which expanded awareness of how moderate wine consumption can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Wine consumption is still a low 2.6 gallons per capita, but the adult population is growing every year as echo boomers come of age and adopt wine just as their baby boomer parents did,” said Jon Fredrickson of The Gomberg-Fredrikson Report. Many new creative wines were introduced last year to keep consumers excited, including Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Riesling and off-dry wines, as well as affordable Pinot Noir from inland California regions.
Thirty-eight percent of U.S. wine exports by value were shipped to the 27 member countires of the Euroean Union, and accounted for $435 million of the revenues, up 14% from 2009. Changes in the dollar exchange rate, a recovering economy and California’s effective marketing and high wine quality have helped exports to rebound. Other top markets were Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, and China.
