Worldwide consumption of wine increased significantly last year.

Close on 241 million hectolitres of wine were consumed worldwide in 2006 - 1,4 per cent more than in 2005. There are several reasons: while the decrease in some of the classic wine-producing countries in Europe proceeded more slowly than in the past, countries such as the USA continued to grow. The most thirsty nation is still France: this ensures the country remains at the top of the consumption rankings in terms of total absolute consumption. Second and third places are held by Italy and the USA, followed by Auf den Plätzen zwei und drei folgen Italien und die USA, Germany and Spain.