U.S. Will Become World's Largest Wine Market Within 4 Years

A recent study commissioned by Vinexpo, one of the industry's biggest trade shows, predicts that the United States will become the biggest wine market in the world. By 2008, wine sales in the U.S. will total 3.69 billion standard sized bottles (29% more than 2003). Total sales value will reach $24.21 billion.

Italy will remain the biggest wine consumer per capita at 65.3 bottles per person per year. U.S. consumption will reach 17.5 bottles per person per year by 2008, up from 14 in 2003, but not enough to put us in the top ten.