GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM&AP)-Wine makers in Michigan are toasting to a milestone.
For the first time, U.S. wine sales have topped the wine-loving French. That's according to the Wine Institute in San Francisco, California. Last year, the U.S. sold 330 million cases of wine; that's nine million more cases than France. Although many U.S. drinkers switched to cheaper wines during the recession, wine consumption grew, thanks in part to a new generation of drinkers.
The owner of Cascade Winery in Grand Rapids says Michigan's sweet wines are also gaining ground.
"I think Michigan wines are starting to get recognized all over the world," says owner Bob Bonga. "We have our own unique terra, which is the soils, the climate and everything, to make [our wines] different from others, and people are finally starting to recognize those flavors and enjoy them."
But the wine war isn't over yet. The French still lead in consumption, with the average adult drinking 12.2 gallons of wine a year, compared to just 2.6 gallons for Americans.