Shea Simmons
You’ve probably heard that people drank a lot more alcohol in 2020. Somehow, though, this didn’t include wine.
Although overall alcohol consumption increased in 2020 (thank you, pandemic), wine was the exception. This was also due to the pandemic, though. In its annual report, the International Organization of Vine and Wine found that, overall, wine consumption was down 3% last year, and that wine production was “below average,” as well.
Obviously, the hospitality industry suffered last year, as fewer people were going to restaurants and bars, and thus, fewer people were drinking wine. High-end wines, in particular, suffered the most, while most large-scale producers saw a revenue increase (hello, boxed wine).
Despite the overall drop, though, wine consumption in the United States remained consistent. It was actually the country with the highest percentage. According to the report, this was most likely due to the fact that less stringent lockdown measures were implemented in the United States.
If you want to continue the trend of imbibing less often, there are some nonalcoholic “spirits” on the market that actually taste incredible. Give them a try!
[Via Food and Wine]
