Spain overtakes France as world's second-biggest wine producer

(FoxNews) - Spain last year became the world's second-largest wine producer, moving ahead of France - but still behind Italy - thanks to a 31 percent production increase over 2012 to 42.7 million hectoliters (about 1.13 billion gallons), the International Organization of Vine and Wine, or OIV, said Wednesday.

Spain's jump was linked to record production of 50.6 million hectoliters (1.34 billion gallons), if one adds grape juice and must to the wine total.

Italy remained in first place with 44.9 million hectoliters (1.19 billion gallons) of wine production, a rise of 2 percent, while France dropped into third place with 42 million hectoliters (1.11 billion gallons), still far ahead of the United States with 22 million hectoliters (581 million gallons), a 7 percent increase.

Argentina was in fifth place with 15 million hectoliters (396 million gallons), a 27 percent increase, while Chile, with record production of 12.8 million hectoliters (338 million gallons), a 2 percent increase, surpassed China, which had production of 11.7 million hectoliters (309 million gallons), a decline of 15 percent.

Next, the OIV said, came South Africa with 11 million hectoliters (291 million gallons), a 4 percent hike; Germany with 8.3 million hectoliters (219 million gallons), down 8 percent; Portugal with 6.7 million hectoliters (177 million gallons), up 7 percent; Romania with 4.3 million hectoliters (114 million gallons), up 29 percent; and Greece with 3.7 hectoliters (98 million gallons), up 19 percent. EFE