World wine consumption trends

USA 

The US is still seeing significant wine sales growth; it is the highest wine consuming country by volume, drinking 341.5 million nine-litre cases in 2016.

This is expected to rise 4.9% by 2020, to 358.3 million cases, according to a report released this week by trade show Vinexpo and drinks research firm The IWSR.

Its figures re-inforce evidence of a consumer trend towards higher-priced wines in the US, too. US wine retail sales are forecast to increase by 11% up to 2020, to $38.6 million; twice the size of the nearest competitor, the UK.

Only China is expected to grow faster than the US in that time period in volume terms, while the UK market will stay roughly flat in volume as higher demand for sparkling wine offsets a drop in still wine consumption.

Millennials

Capturing the millennial market is a key aim for much of the wine trade. But, opinions on these younger consumers vary.

Millennials are drinking less wine than generations before them, according to wine consumption data from Vinexpo and IWSR.

This echoes other research suggesting that millennials globally are more likely to switch between drinks, such as wine, craft beer and spirits, than stick to one category.

This trend was first reported regarding US millennials last year, but now appears to apply worldwide.

Read more at source: Decanter