The global wine industry is currently grappling with a decline in consumption, hitting its lowest levels since 1996. Despite this, the United States remains a significant wine consumer, with over 910 million gallons consumed in 2022, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). This translates to an average of 0.42 gallons per person annually.
Wine consumption across the U.S. shows notable regional differences. The South leads the nation in total wine consumption, drinking 309.6 million gallons annually. In contrast, the Midwest consumes the least at 159.8 million gallons. However, when looking at per capita consumption, the Midwest and South are nearly identical, with averages of 0.36 and 0.37 gallons per person, respectively. The West leads the country in per capita wine consumption, with an average of 0.53 gallons per person each year.
Washington, D.C., stands out with the highest per capita wine consumption in the nation, at 1.05 gallons per person. This is significantly higher than any state or territory. New Hampshire ranks second, with 0.80 gallons per person, largely due to its lack of alcohol tax, which draws shoppers from neighboring states. Vermont follows with 0.72 gallons per person. On the other end of the spectrum, West Virginia has the lowest per capita wine consumption, at just 0.11 gallons.
In terms of total volume, the most populous states consume the largest amounts of wine. California leads the nation with 156 million gallons, followed by Florida (83.2 million gallons) and Texas (62.4 million gallons) in 2022. Smaller states with lower populations, such as Wyoming, consume significantly less—just 1.1 million gallons annually.
Washington, D.C., also leads in per capita ethanol consumption, with an average of 1.05 gallons per person. New Hampshire and Vermont follow with 0.80 and 0.72 gallons per person, respectively. Despite being fifth in per capita wine consumption, California ranks first in total volume, due to its large population. States with smaller populations or stricter alcohol regulations, such as Utah, report lower consumption figures both per capita and in total.
States with high per capita consumption, such as Nevada, Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Hawaii, all exceed 0.57 gallons per person. On the other hand, states with historically strong alcohol production traditions, like Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Mississippi, have lower per capita consumption, with averages below 0.25 gallons.
Midwestern states such as Illinois, which is known for its distilled spirits production, consume 39.5 million gallons of wine, with an average per capita consumption of 0.48 gallons. New York, with 59.3 million gallons consumed, has an average individual consumption of 0.46 gallons. These figures underscore the influence of cultural, demographic, and legislative factors on alcohol consumption across the U.S.
The data offers two perspectives: per capita consumption and overall volume. Per capita consumption reflects individual drinking habits, while total volume is driven by population size. Washington, D.C., New Hampshire, Vermont, and Delaware lead in per capita consumption, indicating higher individual consumption in these smaller states. Meanwhile, California, Florida, Texas, and New York dominate in total consumption due to their larger populations.
States like Washington, D.C., New Hampshire, and Vermont rank high in per capita consumption, but their smaller populations mean their overall consumption figures are relatively modest. Conversely, larger states like Texas and Georgia rank high in total volume but show mid-range per capita consumption figures. California and Florida stand out for their substantial populations combined with relatively high per capita consumption.
At the other end of the spectrum, states such as West Virginia, Kansas, Utah, Oklahoma, and Mississippi rank low in per capita consumption. Wyoming, South Dakota, West Virginia, and North Dakota have the lowest overall consumption, largely due to their small populations, with West Virginia notably ranking low in both per capita and total consumption.
This analysis highlights the disparities in alcohol consumption across the United States, offering insight into the states where individual wine consumption is highest and the regions representing the largest markets for alcohol sales by total volume. The data estimates ethanol consumption based on the average alcohol content in wine, beer, and spirits sold or shipped, rather than direct individual measurements.
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