One thing we like about the wine industry: there’s always something to talk about. Whether it’s a new innovation (is that a can of wine you’re drinking?), the current year’s popular styles (red blends and sparkling wines in 2016), or whatever the Wine Wankers are tweeting about.
But in case you’re looking for some more fodder for your tastings, we gathered up the latest wine statistics below. Not only will they boost your knowledge of the industry—they might also come in handy as you lead your next wine tasting event.
32 Wine Statistics
Wine Consumption Statistics
- In 2015, the total amount of wine (all types) consumed per U.S. resident was 2.83 gallons (up from 2.81 in 2014). (Wine Institute)
- Wine consumption trends show that women typically choose wine over beer as their favorite alcoholic beverage, with 46% of women naming it as their top choice. (For men, 55% favor beer.) (The Harris Poll)
- Wine is the beverage of choice for adults in high-income households (37%, with income of $100,000+) and adults ages 65+ (42%). (The Harris Poll)
- 36% of wine drinkers in 2015 were Millennials, who enjoy experimenting with brands but are also price-conscious. (Cheers)
- In the U.S., Chardonnay has the largest sales market share at 13.3%, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon at 12.1% and Merlot at 8.9%. (Statistic Brain)
- The fastest-growing wine categories in the U.S. are red blends and rosé. (Wine Enthusiast)
- Among U.S. wine lovers, the top choice is red (38%) followed by white (32%). Rosé or blush wines come in much lower at 19%, and sparkling wine and champagne at 10%. (The Harris Poll) However, Rosé is here to stay—and its popularity is likely to an increase! (Vogue)
- Men prefer red over all other types (49%). (The Harris Poll)
- The “brosé” phenomenon—men standing up for their right to drink pink—is responsible in part for the recent increase of rosé wine sales in the U.K. (Newsweek)
- In 2016, 52% of U.S. wine drinkers say they prefer a semi-sweet tasting wine, followed by fruity (47%) and smooth (47%). (Winebusiness.com)
- Eighty percent of Americans drink wine because they enjoy the taste, and 61% say they drink it primarily to relax. (Winebusiness.com)
- The two most important factors in choosing a wine are price (80%) and brand (66%). (Winebusiness.com)
- The amount Americans are willing to pay for wine has been increasing since 2008. In 2016, 51% of people paid between $9 and $15 on a bottle to drink at home. But luxury wine purchases (for special occasions or simply to enjoy) aren’t out of the question—44% of people said they’ve spent more than $50 for a bottle of wine. (Winebusiness.com)
- Almost three-quarters of the wine consumed in the U.S. in 2016 were domestic wines (71%). (Wine Enthusiast)
- Drinking wine at restaurants is most common at Italian eateries and steakhouses. (Wine Enthusiast)
Global Wine Industry Statistics
- In 2016, 242 million hectoliters of wine were consumed worldwide. (Statista)
- The global wine market is made up of 1 million wine labels, 36 billion bottles, and 150,000 winemakers. (Dee-Wine)
- As of 2014, the country with the highest wine consumption per capita is Andorra, having consumed 3,936,000 litres of wine. (Only 69,165 people live there, which comes to 76 bottles per head—though the figure may also include visitors to the country.) Next on the list is Vatican City. (The Telegraph)
- The U.S. consumes more wine than any other country, but per capita it only ranks 55th overall. (The Telegraph)
- California is the world’s fourth leading wine producer after France, Italy, and Spain; 85% of all U.S. wine is produced there. (Wine Institute of California)
- Eighty-four percent of the world’s most famous wines are French. (Mordor Intelligence)
Why should you join Traveling Vineyard? We can give you five good reasons.
- 99% of the best-selling wines in China are red wines, probably in large part because the color red signifies good luck and happiness in the Chinese culture. (The Drinks Business)
- By 2020, China is expected to become the world’s second most valuable wine market. (The Drinks Business)
- In 2016, 10 million wine tourists visited France, participating in wine-making workshops, staying at vineyards, and participating in wine courses and conferences. (VisitFrenchWine.com)
- Asia-Pacific countries make up the fastest-growing market for wine consumption. (Mordor Intelligence)
- The country with the highest average cost of wine is the Marshall Islands, followed by Indonesia. (Business Insider)
Miscellaneous Wine Statistics
- Sales of canned wine increased by 125% in 2016, as consumers continue to appreciate the portability of cans. (Wine Industry Network)
- Eighty-nine percent of Americans are willing to buy screw-cap wine bottles, 75% single-serving bottles, and 60% boxed wine. (Winebusiness.com)
- Screw-cap wine bottles represent 15 percent of the global market. We know our customers love the screw top on Fissata, Red, and our Calamity Sue, Riesling! (Brand Packaging)
- The personality factor of a wine brand makes up 50% of the reason for its success. (Dee-Wine) Over 600,000 adults have attended a Traveling Vineyard Tasting Event hosted by one of our Wine Guides. (Traveling Vineyard)
- Ninety-nine percent of U.S. wineries have a website; 92% have a Facebook page, and 64% use Twitter. (Dee-Wine)
- The top three most popular wine apps in 2016 were Winesearcher, Vivino, and, tied for third place, Hello Vino and Delectable. (Winebusiness.com)
Feeling more knowledgeable about wine statistics? Hopefully so! Follow our YouTube site for interviews with our Director of Wine and Director of Sommology, and stop by our blog regularly for even more wine insights.