Decanter World Wine AwardsDownturn to slow US wine consumption
- Thursday 11 August 2011
Wine consumption in the US increased 2.1% to 303.1 million nine-litre cases in 2010, according to the 2011 Wine Handbook, published by the Beverage Information Group.
Sales of domestically-produced wine rose 3% to 229.4m cases, but imports fell marginally to 73.6m cases.
The report predicts consumption continuing to rise to 321.9m cases over the next five years but Eric Schmidt, the Group’s manager of information services, admitted: ‘This is lower than my previous predictions.
‘This is due to the continued instability in the economy, with the current fluctuations in financial markets not making me more optimistic.’
In response to falling Australian sales, Schmidt told decanter.com that its grape glut and bulk shipping had ‘cheapened its image’.
And he said mixed consumer behaviour was difficult to assess. ‘We’re slowly seeing a return to higher-priced offerings, although the marked increase in domestic wine in large box format is indicative of consumers being more frugal with their disposable income.’
Have your say!
@SteveEvansWine
August 13 21:08
It's great to see wine consumption rising in the USA. It so many countries it is decreasing. The over supply situation has a future positive in that it enables trialists to engage with wine at a most attractive price. As we all know from this point a good proportion of these now converts will trade up the value ladder.
Vance Petrunoff
August 13 06:09
Bulgarian wine imports in the US doubled in the past 2 years led by VINI, brand created for the American market by Bulgarian Master Vintners, Sonoma, CA wine importer.