Wine not? Americans drinking more

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - More Americans are picking up those wine glasses. Last year, wine drinkers in the U.S. consumed 3.7 billion bottles of wine.

The U.S. beats out every other country in wine consumption, according to a report from Vinexpo and International Wine and Spirit Research.

This report also found that America is still the leading market in terms of retail sales. Italy, France and Germany followed behind. For some, like Laurel Stachura of Wilbraham, they're surprised these wine-loving countries don't have more wine sales than us. “I would have thought that perhaps Italy or France might have been large consumers since it seems to be more ingrained in the culture,” Stachura said.

It is important to note however, the consumption per person is not the highest in the world, but Vinexpo forecasts a 10% increase over the next four years in the U.S. This increase could be seen as a sign that the economy is improving, because wine is more of a luxury purchase and not a necessity.