Americans love their wine — a lot. In 2016, Americans drank the equivalent of 4.24 billion bottles of wine, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
That’s enough to make the United States the biggest global wine consumer for the sixth straight year. France was second at 3.6 billion bottles, and Italy was third at 3 billion bottles. In terms of global percentage, Americans drank around 13 percent of the total amount of wine consumed in 2016. America first. America first.
Break the U.S. numbers down per capita, and it comes out to around 13.3 bottles of wine for every man, woman, child, and newborn. Now, considering not all men and women (and no children or newborns) drink wine, we have to assume some people are holding up their end of the wine drinking more than others. You know who you are.
Stand proud, wine drinkers of America. If the wine science rings true (and lets all hope it does) all those bottles are increasing the size of your brain, helping boost your metabolism of fatty acids, and making you better in bed.
Unfortunately, good news wasn’t the only thing that came out of the latest OIV report. Wine production in 2016 around the world fell by 3 percent compared to 2015. Luckily things are looking up in 2017, although it’s a bit early to make any solid assertions.
For now, though, it’s time to make a Wine Wednesday toast (or Malbec Monday, or Toasting Tuesday, or Thirsty For Wine Thursday, or Free Flowing Wine Friday, or Soaked in Wine Saturday, or Sipping Sunday toasts) to 2016. Cheers to the abundance of wine, and may it always be there when we want it.
