Wine sales - which country leads?

[Innkeeper]

Hi Mariahjaltalin, and welcome to the Wine Board. Here are volume figures for 1997 of the top ten producers. Figures are in millions of gallons.

France 1452
Italy 1304
Spain 896
U.S. 653
Argentina 392
South Africa 227
Germany 222
Romania 177
Australia 162
Portugal 144

Value is a moving target. In days of yore, a discovered region could stay a good deal for generations. No more. With modern communications and pervasive media, good deal regions quickly get the word, and just as rapidly raise their prices. Right now some of the best values are coming from the non-traditional Italian regions, the Vins De Pays from France, Portugal, Argentina, South Africa, and (fading fast) New Zealand.

[This message has been edited by Innkeeper (edited 03-06-2001).]