US consumption reached 311.3 million 9-litre cases in 2011 – equivalent to 3.735 billion bottles. In addition, the Vinexpo/IWSR five-year forecasts indicate that US wine consumption should continue to grow by 10% between 2011 and 2015. China, meanwhile, has displaced the UK in the world’s top five wine-consuming nations, with consumption of still, light and sparkling wines growing by 33.4% in China and Hong Kong combined in 2011 to reach 156.19m 9-litre cases. The UK dropped down to sixth on the list. Consumption in China and Hong Kong grew 2.4 times larger in the five-year period from 2006 to 2010, and the figures predict a further 54.25% rise between 2011 and 2015. Click here to continue reading.