Wine in France - Statistics & Facts
Historically, French regions became benchmarks in enology from the late Middle Ages to the 19th century thanks to various historical and political factors. They were some of the first regions to produce large quantities of wines with consistent quality from one year to the next, and local winemakers decided to perfect their art together to develop a strong collective reputation.
Regardless of consumption habits, French people tend to use a significant part of their home budget to buy wine; around 120 euros are spent annually on this special beverage, with quality being an important characteristic.
And what happens if we compare wine to beer in a country such as France? As of 2022, beer wins the battle by a very small margin.
A taste for wine
In the 1980s, 50 percent of the population drank wine on a regular basis, the trend, however, has changed in recent years. The amount consumed per capita has decreased over the years. In 2003, a French person drank around 69.5 liters annually, whereas the consumption per capita amounted to 47 liters in 2021. While many factors can influence French consumers' preference for a specific wine, the clear winner appears to be red wine.Regardless of consumption habits, French people tend to use a significant part of their home budget to buy wine; around 120 euros are spent annually on this special beverage, with quality being an important characteristic.
The importance of savoir-faire
When speaking about quality, two acronyms should be mentioned. SIG, which stands for Sans Indication Géographique and designates wine without a specific geographic origin, and AOP / PDO, which stands for Appellation d’Origine Protégée (Protected Designation of Origin) and covers all kinds of quality wine with a specific origin. When it comes to price, the difference is also apparent. On average, a liter of SIG wine costs two euros, while the price of a liter of PDO wine can go up to seven euros.And what happens if we compare wine to beer in a country such as France? As of 2022, beer wins the battle by a very small margin.
