U.S. wine consumption continues to grow

(CapitalPress) - Thirsty Americans polished off 297 million cases of table wine last year, according to the Wine Market Council’s annual report on U.S. Wine Consumer Trends.

“This was 1.5 million more cases than the previous year,” council president John Gillespie told a packed audience here. “However, there was sluggish growth.”

The Wine Market Council is a non-profit association of grape growers, wine producers, imports, wholesalers and other affiliated businesses and organizations. Its mission is to grow, strengthen and stabilize the wine market in the United States.

Of the 2,000 people who participated in the survey, 66 percent categorized themselves as occasional drinkers while 34 percent said they are “high frequency” drinkers, meaning that they drink wine daily or several times a week.

Budget wines — those priced at less than $10 a bottle — attracted 47 percent of buyers. High-end wines — priced at more than $20 a bottle — attracted 30 percent of buyers, and box wines attracted 23 percent of buyers.

“Women drank more wine occasionally than men but an equal number of men and women were frequent wine drinkers,” Gillespie said.

Generations had marked differences in their wine drinking patterns and consumption. Here is the breakdown:

WWII (82 and over) 12 million; Swing (69-81) 30 million; Boomer (50-68) 44 million; Generation X (38-49) 44 million; and Millennial (20-37) 70 million.

“The survey noted that Boomers rank first in high frequency wine consumption and Millennials drink more high-end wine,” Gillespie said. “Older Americans drink more wine at home compared to Millennials who consume more wine at a bar or restaurant.”

California ranks No. 1 in wine purchases, followed by Washington and Oregon.