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36 Exclusive Wine Statistics & Facts for Adept Wine Lovers

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Wine has been one of the most adored and popular drinks throughout history, as supported by the wine statistics found in this article.

Regardless of what type you prefer, just one glass of wine is bound to make you more relaxed and appreciative of the smaller things in life.

The art of wine production is not an easy one, and countries all over the world work hard to give you the highest-quality glass of the drink you love so much.

In this article, you will learn about wine and its history, all in the hopes of making you appreciate this powerful drink even more.

Top 10 Wine Statistics and Facts

  • Vineyards took up around 7.3 million hectares of land worldwide in 2020.
  • About 1,300 grape varieties are used in wine production.
  • The global wine market was estimated at $326.6 billion in 2020.
  • The US wine market had an estimated value of $88 billion in 2020.
  • The projected French wine production for 2020 was 44.7–45.7 million hectolitres.
  • Wine companies in Argentina produced 10.8 million hectoliters of wine in 2020.
  • Italy was the leading wine-producing country in 2019.
  • Red wine is healthier than white wine.
  • Regular red wine consumption can help increase the “good” HDL cholesterol levels.
  • More males than females opt for wine tourism.

General Wine Statistics

The wine industry, that’s been expanding for ages, has a rich history and culture. Today, this industry’s worth reaches hundreds of billions of dollars.

Here, we take you through the basic yet fascinating statistics and facts about wine to give you a general outlook about this widely consumed drink.

1. The oldest winery in the world is located in a cave in Armenia.

(The Vintage News)

Even though we have evidence of people drinking wine 6100 years ago, this is the oldest actual winery discovered so far. While exploring, researchers found a grape press, fermentation jars, a cup, and a drinking bowl.

2. One of the lesser-known wine facts is that there’s a widely accepted formula for wine tasting, and anyone can learn it.

(Wine Enthusiast)

Sommeliers know what they’re talking about because they know how to evaluate wine. It’s a practiced skill, but you can start by examining the conditions you’re in before tasting. For example, it’s harder to concentrate when it’s noisy and crowded around you. First, you should evaluate wine by sight, and afterward, by smell.

3. Vineyards took up around 7.3 million hectares of land worldwide in 2020.

(Statista)

Most of the world’s wine comes from the Mediterranean region. The climate, soil quality, and terrain there are just perfect for growing grapes.

4. Decanting an old bottle of wine may help get rid of sediment and make wine consumption more enjoyable.

(The Kitchn)

Decanting is the process of pouring wine from one bottle into another. This is very useful for older wines, as you won’t get any built-up sediment in your glass, so your wine will taste much nicer. Furthermore, the oxidation that happens during the process helps release aromas and allows you to better taste what you’re drinking.

5. Facts about wine reveal that wine doesn’t expire, but it can become corked.

(The Kitchn)

The chemical compound TCA can be found in corks and is potentially dangerous to your wine. It’s very easy for corks to come in contact with chlorides found in bleach and taint the wine. You’ll know your wine is tainted if it smells like wet cardboard.

6. About 1,300 grape varieties are used in wine production.

(Crush Wine Experiences, Wine Spectator)

The world’s most common winemaking grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Airén (a Spanish sherry grape), Tempranillo, and Chardonnay.

7. Damascenone—a compound found in grapes—enhances the flavor of some wine types.

(Waterhouse Lab)

In fact, this compound contributes to many different aromas found in wine. These include floral aromas, tea, dry plum, caramel, dark berries, honey, and fruit. Damascenone increases in shades instead of in the sun, as people often assume.

Global Wine Industry Statistics

The global wine industry is ever-fluctuating. Many factors affect it, from the weather conditions to consumers’ current preferences and awareness.

Stick with us as we attempt to satisfy your curiosity about the current state of the wine industry, future projections, wine production, and wine consumption per country.

8. The global wine market was estimated at $326.6 billion in 2020.

(GlobeNewswire)

According to the global wine sales statistics, the market could expand to $434.6 billion by 2027, provided it continues to grow at a CAGR of 4.2%.

9. The global wine consumption in 2020 totaled 234 million hectoliters.

(Statista)

Over the last two decades, the consumption figures have been relatively consistent, varying between 226 and 250 million hectoliters a year. Wine consumption peaked in 2007 and 2008 with 250 million hectoliters and hit a record low of 226 million hectoliters in 2000.

10. The estimated value of California wine sales in 2019 was $43.6 billion.

(Wine Institute)

California wineries sent out 241.5 million nine-liter cases for sale in the US in 2019. This was a 6% jump in value and a 1% decrease in volume compared to the previous year.

11. California wine statistics show that California is the United States’ wine capital, with an impressive 4.613 wineries under its belt.

(Statista)

Washington is in second place, with 812, and Oregon isn’t too far behind, with 809 wineries. New York’s count is just an eleventh of California’s, as the state has only 411 wineries. Moreover, Colorado is the state with the lowest number of wineries, as it only counts 150.

12. The US wine market had an estimated value of $88 billion in 2020.

(GlobeNewswire)

According to wine statistics for 2020, other notable wine markets included China, Japan, Canada, and Germany.

By 2027, the Chinese wine market could expand to $93.5 billion, growing at a CAGR of 7.4%.

13. In France, men consume more wine than women, 74.7% vs. 60.5%.

(Statista)

What makes this one of the more fascinating French wine facts is that 2015 wasn’t the only year when men consumed more wine than women in France. In 1980, 90.8% and 73.4% of men and women consumed wine, respectively. In the year 2000, these numbers equated to 76.1% for men and 59.2% for women.

14. France was the number one country in terms of wine consumption per capita in 2019.

(NationMaster)

France led the way with an impressive 6.74 liters of pure alcohol consumed per capita, a 0.9% decrease from the 2018 figure. The chart’s other leading nations included Portugal, Moldova, and Slovenia, with 6.25, 5.59, and 5.19 million hectoliters.

15. The US wine export reached $1.36 billion in 2019, according to the US wine sales statistics.

(Wine Institute)

Expectedly, California accounted for 95% of the exports with a total volume shipment of 41 million nine-liter cases (371 million liters, or 98 million gallons).

16. The 28 EU countries topped the US wine exports chart in 2019, accounting for a whopping $427 million in shipments.

(Wine Institute)

Other top markets for the US wine exports included Canada ($424 million), Hong Kong ($113 million), Japan ($92 million), China ($39 million), South Korea ($27 million), etc.

17. The projected French wine production for 2020 was 44.7–45.7 million hectolitres.

(Reuters)

Predictive wine statistics for 2020 estimated an increase in production of 6–8% compared to 2019.

18. Wine exports from Australia amounted to AUD2.27 billion ($2.07 billion) in 2020/2021.

(Wine Australia)

The Australian export values in 2020/2021 were 24% smaller than in 2019/2020.

Moreover, Australia exported 638 million liters, 17% less than in the previous fiscal year.

19. Wine companies in Argentina produced 10.8 million hectoliters of wine in 2020.

(Statista)

This is a significant increase in comparison with the 13.02 million hectoliters produced in 2019.

In 2018, Argentina produced 1.5 million hectoliters of colored wine and 321 hectoliters of white wine. The most-produced red wine was Malbec, while the most-produced white wine variety was Torrontés Riojano.

20. Wine sales statistics show that Italy was the leading wine exporter worldwide in 2019, with 21.6 million hectoliters in volume.

(Statista)

Spain wasn’t too far behind, with 21.3 million hectoliters, while France was in distant third place, with 14.2 million. New Zealand was in the last place, with just 2.6 million, just below Argentina, which exported 2.7 million hectoliters of wine in 2019. The US exported 3.6 million hectoliters of wine, making it only to seventh place.

21. Italy was the leading wine-producing country in 2019.

(Statista)

Italy topped the world’s production charts by producing 49.1 million hectoliters of wine. It was closely followed by France (46.6 million hectoliters), Spain (40.7 million hectoliters), and the US (22.8 million hectoliters).

Common Risks and Health Benefits of Drinking Wine

That wine can be healthy despite being an alcoholic drink is a well-known fact. But what exactly are the health benefits of wine?

This section explores all vital health benefits provided by this popular beverage, as well as all the possible risks and side effects that may accompany its consumption.

22. Red wine is rich in antioxidants.

(NCBI)

Antioxidants are essential for all human beings, as they reduce damage caused by oxidative stress and inflammation. Drinking red wine can increase your antioxidant levels, regardless of your age. In turn, this protects your lipid systems with circulation. Not only that, but you are also protected from oxidative stress.

23. Red wine is healthier than white wine.

(Healthline)

Red wine contains higher quantities of minerals and vitamins.

For example, according to white wine nutritional facts, a 5-oz glass of white wine contains 9% DV of manganese, 4% DV of potassium, 2% DV of iron, 1% DV of riboflavin, and 1% DV of niacin.

On the other hand, the same amount of red wine provides slightly higher amounts of these nutrients. According to red wine nutritional facts, a 5-oz glass of red wine offers 10% DV of manganese, 5% DV of potassium, 4% DV of iron, 3% DV of riboflavin, and 2% DV of niacin.

Additionally, red wine is a richer source of tannins and resveratrol that provide many health benefits.

24. According to wine nutrition facts, this alcoholic drink can help improve gut health.

(NCBI)

Because red wine and grapes have polyphenols, they can increase the number of good bacteria in the gut.  Consequently, the compounds and bacteria in the stomach may work together to improve your stomach health.

25. Red wine is highly beneficial for heart health.

(AHA Journals)

Resveratrol is present in red wine and grapes and can be beneficial for hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and atherosclerosis. In fact, the component has even been used as a supplement for improving cardiovascular health.

26. Regular red wine consumption can help increase the “good” HDL cholesterol levels.

(Healthline)

This is one of the little-known facts about wine. Good HDL cholesterol reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, making red wine an excellent ally in maintaining your health.

A small-scale study suggested that daily consumption of 1–2 glasses of red wine for four weeks may lead to increased HDL levels. A group that consumed red wine experienced an 11–16% HDL increase compared to those that drank water or a mixture of water and grape extract.

27. Red wine can lower cardiometabolic risk in those who have type 2 diabetes.

(Annals of Internal Medicine)

The study dealt with three groups, two of which drank red wine, while one had water. The red wine facts derived from the research revealed no significant distinctions in adiposity, blood pressure, liver function, or quality of life between the three groups. However, along with a lowered cardiometabolic risk, moderate drinking of wine also proved to improve the quality of sleep in both groups.

(Cancer.gov)

Even though this is a common myth, no association has been found between a lowered risk of cancer and moderate wine drinking. In fact, alcoholic beverages, wine included, may be exposed to carcinogenic components during production and fermentation, thus increasing the risk of cancer, especially for heavy drinkers.

29. Too much wine may cause organ damage.

(Healthline)

Both red and white wine may be unhealthy if consumed in excess. Alcohol in wine, just like in other spirits, may cause cirrhosis.

30. One of the interesting facts about wine is that drinking it lowers the risk of depression.

(NCBI)

Wine does make you happy even if it doesn’t cure cancer, and drinking two to seven glasses per week can lower your risk of incident depression. However, those who drink more than the recommended amount may develop a higher risk for the same illness.

Wine Tourism Statistics

Billions of dollars are generated from wine tourism on a global scale each year. Here, we take you through some of the most compelling wine tourism statistics and tourism-related wine history facts you’ll ever come across.

31. More males than females opt for wine tourism.

(Great Wine Capitals)

Although you may expect women to be more into wine tourism than men, the male prevalence is obvious. As far as consumers’ age is concerned, most of them fall under the 36 to 55 age group. Moreover, those aged between 18 and 35 rarely visit wineries.

32. Cape Town has one of the oldest wine tourism traditions; it opened its doors in 1990.

(Great Wine Capitals)

One of the most unsurprising wine facts is that Bordeaux realized the huge potential of wine tourism early on, as it started its activities in 1990. Napa, Porto, and Mainz opened their doors to tourists around 1995, while Bilbao-Rioja and Florence did so between 1995 and 2000. Mendoza was the last on the list to start their wine tourism activities.

33. Wine stats reveal that 70.4% of tourists prefer visiting wine countries in the summer months.

(Great Wine Capitals)

Around 8.3% prefer visiting wine countries during spring, while 15.3% do so in the fall. Winter is reasonably the least favorite season for wine tourism, with only 2.7% of visitors choosing to tour wine countries during this season. To 3.4% of tourists, seasons are not important when it comes to visiting wine countries.

34. Wine tourism increases the overall wine industry value, with 68.9% of wineries claiming it improved their brand image.

(Great Wine Capitals)

Around 61.9% of wineries say wine tourism increases their revenues, while 53.8% say it helps them with brand positioning. Some 52.8% feel wine tourism helps the tourism industry in their community, while 35.6% feel like it opens up employment opportunities.

35. 68% promote their tourism services by handing their information to tourist information offices.

(Great Wine Capitals)

However, according to wine tasting facts, 63.7% prefer the hands-on approach, so they host wine-tasting events to show tourists a glimpse of what they’ll be getting. Around 52.2% said they participate in wine fairs to boost promotions, while 41.2% use social media marketing.

36. One of the fun facts about wine companies is that 83.1% of them offer wine tasting events as part of their services.

(Great Wine Capitals)

Moreover, 74.9% offer guided visits, while 39.9% include restaurants into the package. Around 17.1% say they regularly host exhibitions, and 20.3% enhance the entertainment factor by hosting cultural, social, and sports activities.

FAQ

Why does wine not have nutrition facts?

Even though wine is full of calories—much like any other drink—you’ll never find nutritional facts printed on bottles. The reason behind this is historical. After the prohibition ended, the majority of alcoholic beverages, including wine, fell under the jurisdiction of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Bureau. Unlike the FDA, the TTB doesn’t require nutrition labels and never has.

How many people drink wine in the US?

According to 2018 statistics, about 40% (240 million) of people of legal drinking age in the US drank wine. Women accounted for 56% and men for 44% of wine drinkers in the US.

Research has shown that Americans enjoy red wine the most, with 69% listing it as their preference. Merlot is the most popular type of red wine, supported by the fact 19% listed it as their favorite. Cabernet sauvignon is a close second with 18%, and pinot noir is in third place with 12%.

Who buys the most wine?

The US citizens lead the way in wine purchasing and consumption with 33 million hectoliters in 2020 alone. They are followed closely by France with 24.7 million hectoliters.

How many types of wine are there?

There are many different types of wine out there, but there are three main categories you can use for orientation: red, white, and rose, which can be both sparkling and fortified. Red wines have a dark fruit flavor, while whites are more citrusy and refreshing. Rose is perfect for summer days, sparkling wine is served during events, and fortified wines are best after meals.

How big is the wine industry?

The global wine market in 2020 was worth $326.6 billion. It’s forecasted to reach $434.6 billion by 2027.

How many grapes are in a bottle of wine?

Believe it or not, it takes between 400 and 500 grapes for a single bottle of wine. An average vine will typically produce around ten bottles of wine.

Is the wine industry growing?

Yes.

The wine industry has been growing at a very rapid pace over the last decade.

Changing tastes and new preferences among consumers and the increasing demand for new and exotic flavors are helping to drive wine industry expansion.

Conclusion

These wine statistics and facts are just the tip of the iceberg. After all, when you’ve got a drink with such a long history, it’s impossible to capture its whole essence in just one article. Still, you’re now equipped with valuable knowledge about one of the world’s most popular drinks and will be able to appreciate your next glass on a whole new level.

Sources:

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As a student of English literature, Nikolina has always been passionate about reading and writing. Whether it’s for work or pleasure, she finds she best organizes her thoughts on paper. This is evident in her poetry and short stories, but also in the articles she writes professionally. As someone with a lot to say and a strong opinion on almost any topic, you could say this was her dream job.

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