Italy was the world leader for wine exports last year, in terms of volume, ahead of Spain and France, the International Wine and Vine Organization (OIV) reported.
According to the Paris-based group, which represents 41 wine-producing countries, global wine exports in 2005 climbed 3% over the previous year and now represented 33.4% of the wine consumed worldwide, compared to 18% at the end of the 1980s.
"What this means is that one out of three bottles of wine is not consumed in the country where it was produced," observed OIV director general Federico Castellucci. The increase in wine exports, he added, "should allow the consumer to have a greater choice for reasonably priced wines".
Last year also saw a turnaround in the long decline in wine consumption with an increase of some one million hectoliters, the OIV said.
However, wine consumption continued to fall in Italy and France, even if the decline was less marked than in previous years.
France last year remained the European leader for wine consumption, with each resident drinking an average of 55.4 liters a year, followed by Portugal with 52.6 liters and Italy with 51.1%.
Spain ranked only sixth for wine consumption, behind Switzerland and Croatia, with 33.6 liters.
World wine production last year is believed to have fallen by between 5.7% and 8.1%, over 2004, although there was an increase in the number of hectares cultivated for wine production.
However, OIV said, the increase in planted vines has been in newcomer wine-producing countries like India and China, while vines have diminished in Europe.
