United Kingdom Archives : TRAVEL/FOOD

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.

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.

Country	Population	Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) (Markets)	Wine Consumption per Capita	Vineyard Surface Area (in hectares)	Wine Production (millions of liters)	Wine Imports (millions of liters)	Composite Score
France	64,756,584	$8.70	53.7	792,023	4,803	595	88.09
Italy	58,743,490	$7.62	40.3	719,955	3,829	203	73.37
Spain	47,486,443	$7.62	29.3	945,061	2,833	54	67.65
Germany	83,264,727	$6.52	25.2	103,687	860	1,357	61.03
Portugal	10,229,884	$5.44	50.3	182,000	752	297	57.78
United States	341,347,980	$15.00	13.9	391,538	2,429	1,227	54.06
United Kingdom	67,903,439	$12.05	27.5	3,800	–	1,233	50.08
Argentina	45,985,165	$4.00	24.0	204,847	881	1	46.79
Chile	19,651,487	$5.52	21.8	172,000	1,103	2	44.73
China	1,425,341,345	$13.86	–	755,719	317	249	43.80

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 61.03, Germany 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.

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.

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/

The TruffleHunter is a United Kingdom based company that sources white and black truffles from both Europe and southern England and creates small-batch truffle products ranging from dairy and cheese to snacks. For the latter, think their vegan and gluten-free Black Truffle Popcorn, Black Truffle Crisps—thinly sliced English potatoes fried in small batches and dusted with Black Truffle Powder, and the more esoteric Black Truffle Seaweed Tempura.

Other products include truffle oils, popcorn, salts, mustard, honey and mayonnaise and have also introduced vegan friendly Black Truffle BBQ Sauce and Black Truffle Hot Sauce. Both ae good for drizzling over vegetables, burgers, meats, and fries, use as a dipping sauce or to flavor other foods with the taste of truffles.

TruffleHunter products are available through Amazon now as well and interestingly are stocked in a temperature controlled warehouse so there’s no huge overseas shipping charges.

The following recipes courtesy of TruffleHunter.

Toasties with Brie and Mushrooms

1 cup mushrooms
2 slices of Brie
1 tbsp TruffleHunter’s Black Truffle Sauce
2 tbsp kraut
1/2 cup or more arugula
1 tsp chopped rosemary
1/3 cup butter
4 slices of sourdough

For this decadent Toastie, preheat a skillet or heavy-duty griddle. In another small frying pan melt half your butter and add in your chopped mushrooms, rosemary and truffle sauce. Sauté for 5-10 minutes and then start building your Toastie layers.
Layer some kraut on the bottom, followed by a generous handful of rocket. Next your truffle mushrooms and top with a big slice of ripe brie.
Finally brush the remaining butter onto the outer sourdough and place into your hot skillet. Place another heavy pan or an iron grill press on top.
Cook for 4-5 mins and turn at least once during cooking.

Bacon with Truffled Mac and Cheese

12 ounces dried macaroni
3 ounces smoked bacon
1 onion
16 ounces whole milk
3tsp TruffleHunter Minced Black Truffle
2 ounces TruffleHunter Black Truffle Butter
2ounces plain flour
8 ounces mature cheddar cheese(grated)
1 tsp TruffleHunter Black Truffle Mustard
TruffleHunter Fresh Black Truffle shavings

Blanch macaroni in boiling water until nearly cooked through (still has a slight crunch).

Grill bacon until golden then cut into lardons. (strips 1/2-inch thick and the full width of the bacon)

For the sauce. Remove skin, and half the onion put into milk with and warm the milk slowly, do not boil. 20 minutes should do.

For the roux.

Melt TruffleHunter Black Truffle Butter in pan big enough to hold at least 1 litre of sauce. Add flour and cook out for two or three minutes.

Finish the sauce.

Remove and discard the onion from the milk. Add the milk to the roux a little at a time all the while whisking.

Once all the milk is combined, add 6oz of the cheese, TruffleHunter Minced Black Truffle and TruffleHunter Black Truffle Mustard and cook out for 5 minutes on a very low heat.