The volume of wine exported from France slipped behind Spain last year, dropping France into third place, with Italy remaining top.  However France remains firmly in the top spot when it comes to the value of the exports, proving the supply and demand theory.  France also remains the top consumer of wine.

The main reason for the drop in exports from France, is the grubbing up of wine vines to grow other crops, as part of an EU initiative to reduce the levels of over supply in the international wine market.

According to OIV (Organization of Vine and Wine), France produced 13.6m hector liters of wine last year, compared to 16.5m hl for Spain and 17.2m hl in Italy. 

Globally the total amount of land under wine production declined by 28 000 Hectors, and consumption fell by 0.8%.  Although the world Market was not consistent, with the biggest falls in the UK and the fastest growing region being the USA.