Just like vineyard acreage, world wine production shrunk in 2010. The total volume of wine produced in 2010 is estimated to be 263 million hectolitre, down from a bit over 270 Mhl in 2009.
Here’s the split on continents:
- Europe: 66%
- Amercias: 19%
- Asia: 5.5%
- Oceania: 5%
- Africa: 4%
The New World has gained 7% points on the old world over fifteen years. World wine production peaked in 2004 at just under 300 Mhl.
The 12 leading wine producing countries in 2010 were (“OIV forecast”):
- Italy: 48.6 Mhl
- France: 45.3 Mhl
- Spain: 36.1 Mhl
- USA: 19.6 Mhl
- Argentina: 16.3 Mhl
- China: 13 Mhl
- Australia: 11.2 Mhl
- South Africa: 9.2 Mhl
- Chile: 8.8 Mhl
- Russia: 8.2 Mhl
- Germany: 7.2 Mhl
- Portugal: 6.8 Mhl
It is interesting to note that China has moved up to the world’s 6th biggest wine producer. There is a lot of buzz around China as a wine buyer (a market for wine) but apparently it is also catching up on production. It has overtaken both Australia, South Africa and Chile.
(Source: OIV World Wine Production 2010)
