A new article in Decanter, written by Rudy Ruitenberg, discusses the growing global consumption of white and rosé wines, which now accounts for more than half of the total wine consumption. This shift has been observed since 2010, with a notable increase in the demand for sparkling wine. The decline in red wine consumption, which has not shown a similar recovery since its peak in 2007, contrasts with the rise in white and rosé wines.
Over the past two decades, the popularity of white wine has surged, primarily driven by the sparkling wine markets in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. This surge has offset the decline in wine consumption in traditional wine-drinking nations such as France and Spain.
In 2021, white wine accounted for 43% of global wine consumption, marking a 3% increase since the beginning of the century. In contrast, the share of red wine has diminished to 47%, a significant drop from just over half. Since 2000, the worldwide consumption of white wine and rosé has increased by 10% and 17% respectively, while red wine has experienced a 15% decrease from its peak in 2007.
The United States stands out as the largest consumer of white wine, witnessing a 65% rise in consumption from 2000 to 2021 and the United Kingdom has shown the most rapid growth in rosé wine consumption. These trends are largely attributed to changes in consumer preferences, with a noticeable shift towards lighter and fresher beverages. The article also highlights that wine production patterns have adapted to these consumption trends, resulting in a marked reduction in the global supply of red wine over the last 20 years.
