US Among Top Wine Destinations: New Global Ranking Revealed

  • France ranks first in the list of top destinations for wine lovers with the highest amount of wine production, contributing to the highest wine consumption per capita as well.
  • Spain has the largest vineyard area, at 945K hectares, supporting a wine production of 2,833 million liters.
  • Argentina offers the most affordable mid-range wine at $4.00 per bottle.
Cepa 21 Vineyards in Castrillo de Duero, Spain. Photo: Jane Simon Ammeson.

Ubuy recently analyzed more than 50 countries to identify the best for wine lovers. Key factors included wine production volume, consumption per capita, vineyard areas, wine imports, and the price of mid-range bottles. The composite score was calculated considering all five metrics for each country.

CountryPopulationBottle of Wine (Mid-Range) (Markets)Wine Consumption per CapitaVineyard Surface Area  (in hectares)Wine Production (millions of liters)Wine Imports (millions of liters)Composite Score
France64,756,584$8.7053.7792,0234,80359588.09
Italy58,743,490$7.6240.3719,9553,82920373.37
Spain47,486,443$7.6229.3945,0612,8335467.65
Germany83,264,727$6.5225.2103,6878601,35761.03
Portugal10,229,884$5.4450.3182,00075229757.78
United States341,347,980$15.0013.9391,5382,4291,22754.06
United Kingdom67,903,439$12.0527.53,8001,23350.08
Argentina45,985,165$4.0024.0204,847881146.79
Chile19,651,487$5.5221.8172,0001,103244.73
China1,425,341,345$13.86755,71931724943.80

France ranks first among the top countries for wine lovers, with a composite score of 88.09. The country has the highest wine production, which contributes to its also having the highest wine consumption per capita at 53.7. With one of the highest vineyard surface areas at 792 thousand hectares, France secured its top spot in the list.

Finca Villacreces, a winery on the Ribera del Duero Wine Trail in Spain.

Italy ranks second with a composite score of 73.37. Italian vineyards, covering 719 thousand hectares, contribute to wine production, while Italians enjoy a strong 40.3 liters per capita annually. The price per mid-range bottle in Italy is $7.62.

Muelas Winery in the Medieval city of Tordesillas, Spain. Photo: Jane Simon Ammeson.

Spain is the third country on the list for wine lovers, with a composite score of 67.65. Its high position is secured by its largest vineyard area, at 945 thousand hectares, supporting a wine production of 2,833 million liters. People drink an average of 29.3 liters of wine per person, enjoying bottles priced at $7.62.

Julius Renner Weinhaus, Oberkirche, Germany. Photo: Jane Simon Ammeson

With a composite score of 61.03Germany is fourth, thanks to its wine imports of 1,357 million liters, which is the highest on the list. With its diverse preferences, the German market enjoys mid-range wines priced at $6.52 per bottle.

Portugal, with a composite score of 57.78, is the fifth country on the list for wine lovers. The country earned its position by having the second-highest per capita wine consumption, at 50.3 liters, with 752 million liters of wine produced from 182,000 hectares of vineyards. 

Round Barn Winery in Baroda, Michigan. Photo: Jane Simon Ammeson.

The United States is ranked sixth on the list of the top countries for wine lovers, scoring 54.06. Although it has the third highest number of wine imports, the country has the lowest consumption rate at 13.9 liters per person and the highest price for a mid-range bottle at $15.

Mari Vineyards in Traverse City, Michigan ©2016 Two Twisted Trees Photography LLC

The United Kingdom comes in seventh place, with a composite score of 50.08. The country has the smallest vineyard area, at only 3,800 hectares, which explains why it has the second-highest wine import volume, totaling 1,233 million liters. The UK’s wine consumption per capita stands at 27.5 liters, with a higher mid-range bottle price of $12.05.

Argentina ranks seventh with a composite score of 46.79. It offers the most affordable mid-range wine at $4.00 per bottle. The country has 204 thousand hectares of vineyards, producing 881 million liters of wine. Argentina’s wine consumption is high at 24.0 liters per capita.

The sun-soaked golden Dorado wine from Bodega de Alberto in Serrada, Spain on the Rueda Wine Trail. Photo Jane Simon Ammeson.

https://www.totalwine.com/wine/chile/c/000271Chile claims the ninth spot with a score of 43.80. The country offers a slightly higher mid-range wine price at $5.52 per bottle compared to Argentina. Chile’s vineyards span 172K hectares, supporting a wine production of 1,103 million liters. Although wine consumption per capita is lower at 21.8 liters, Chile effectively uses its vineyard space to produce quality wines.

China is rounding up the list of the top countries for wine lovers, with a composite score of 44.73. China’s wine production is relatively low at 317 million liters despite having a large vineyard area of 755,719 hectares.

Information courtesy of https://www.ubuy.fr/en/