Global Wine Consumption

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Global wine consumption refers to the total amount of wine consumed worldwide measured in million hectolitres (mhl). 1 hectolitre is equivalent to 100 litres or 133 standard wine bottles (750ml)

Global Consumption:

  • 214.2 million hectolitres

  • 25.3 billion bottles

Country‑Level Consumption

  • U.S. is the world’s #1 consumer (≈33.3M hL/3.33B L)

  • France & Italy follow Canada ranks 12th with 4.57M hL

Top 5 countries - US, France, Italy, Germany, Uk

  • account for 109 m HL or 145 billion bottles

  • 51% of global consumption

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Global Wine Consumption - Map

Top 25 Countries

World map showing the distribution of lakes larger than one million hectares. Large circles indicate lakes over ten million hectares, medium circles over five million hectares, and small circles over one million hectares. Notable lakes' locations are marked across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and various ocean regions.

Summary:

  • Global Consumption

    • 214.2 million hectolitres

    • 25.3 billion bottles

    • Consumption down 3.3% from 2023

    • Lowest consumption in 60+ years

  • Country‑Level Consumption

    • U.S. is the world’s #1 consumer (≈33.3M hL / 3.33B L)

    • France & Italy follow and Canada ranks 12th with 4.57M hL

  • Top 5 countries - US, France, Italy, Germany, Uk

    • Account for 51% of global wine consumption

    • 109 m HL or 145 billion bottles of wine

Global Wine Consumption - Chart

Top 25 Countries

Table showing data on alcohol consumption by country in hectoliters, liters, and bottles, with importer or exporter status, for the top 25 countries and global totals.

Analysis

  • Global Consumption

    • 214.2 million hectolitres or 25.3 billion bottles

    • Consumption down 3.3% from 2023

    • Lowest consumption in 60+ years

  • Country‑Level Consumption

    • U.S. is the world’s #1 consumer at 33.3 million Hectolitres

    • France & Italy follow Canada ranks 12th with 4.57M hL

  • Top 5 countries - US, France, Italy, Germany, Uk

    • Account for 51% of global wine consumption

    • 109 m HL or 145 billion bottles of wine

  • Net Importer / Exporter

    • 8 of the Top 25 Wine Consumption Countries produce more wine than they consume. They are considered net exporters. (France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Portugal, Australia, South Africa).

    • The remaining 17 countries consume more wine than they produce

    • Top 5 Importers are US, UK, Germany, Canada and China

    • These 5 countries import a net total of 41.7 million Hectolitres of wine or 5.4 billion bottles

Annual Wine Production exceeding Consumption

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Analysis

  • Global wine production exceeded consumption by 11.6 million hectolitres or 1.6 billion bottles

  • 5% over production in 2024

  • Rationale:

    • Not all wine produced is intended for immediate consumption.

      • A significant portion of global wine production goes into Aging programs (Barolo, Rioja, Bordeaux, Amarone, Napa Cabs, etc.), Reserve stocks held by producers, Bulk wine inventories held by traders and strategic reserves in some countries

    • Inventory accumulation - Some wine is carried over from previous vintages

    • Losses, waste, and non‑beverage uses

      • Some wines used for Vinegar production, Distillation (brandy, cognac, grappa, industrial alcohol), Cooking wine, Pharmaceutical or cosmetic alcohol and simple waste due to spoilage, oxidation, or faults

    • Exports vs. imports timing mismatch

      • Not all wine produced and issued in a given year is consumed in that year

    • Statistical under‑reporting of consumption is common

    • Some production includes wine that will never be sold.

      • Some producers intentionally dump low‑quality wine, use some wine for distillation, some wine blended into industrial alcohol and other wine destroyed

  • Overall, the wine sector is structurally oversupplied

    • For the last 20 years, global wine production has consistently exceeded consumption

      • Demand is declining (especially among younger consumers)

      • Production capacity remains too high

      • Inventories are growing, 2024 is simply the latest example of this long‑term imbalance

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