American drinking culture is once again the limelight, only this time the news is classier than debacles concerning the banning of alcoholic energy drinks. 

This past year, for the first time in history the United States took the lead in Worldly wine consumption, ahead of previous champions France. According to a study done by California wine industry consultants Gomberg, Fredrikson & Accociates, wine shipments to the U.S. (including domestic sales) increased to 330 million cases in 2010 - about 10 million more than France. 

Not that it’s a competition, but an increase in wine’s popularity is always a cause for celebration. 

However, just because our nation in it’s entirety is consuming more wine than France, this doesn’t mean the average American drinks more wine. Our victory over the French is primarily contributed to our population being five times theirs.

According to government trade data,  the average American imbibes nowhere near as much wine as the French, who in 2008 averaged 53.22 liters per capita. In fact, America didn’t even break the top twenty.  

So what country tops World charts in wine drinking? Why, that would Vatican City, who’s 932 residents quaffed down 66.67 liters each in the year of 2008. 

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