Top 10 largest wine producing countries

Wine is one of the oldest beverages known to mankind and has been a popular and appreciated drink since ancient times. Made from fermented fruits, mostly grapes, the drink is popular around the world. It is therefore not surprising that vineyards now make up over seven million hectares, or around 18 million acres, of our planet’s surface. Vineyards require certain environmental characteristics to produce good yields, but these are found in several regions of the world, with each wine region giving its wines its own, individual characteristics.

For a variety of reasons, including cultural, historical, economic, and even environmental factors, some countries produce much larger quantities of wine than others. The following list ranks the world’s top ten wine producers by country, based on the amount of wine produced in hectoliters.

Ranking criteria: Quantity of wine produced (in hectolitres)

The 10 largest wine producing countries in the world:

1. France

France is the largest wine producer in the world, producing around 20% of the world’s wine supply alone. French wines come in many varieties and price ranges, although they are generally synonymous with elegance and sophistication. The country is also a world leader in the production of high-priced luxury wines. Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne are just a few of the French wine regions that produce iconic wines celebrated around the world. In addition to being the largest wine producers, French winemakers are known for their rich tradition and careful attention to terroir and tradition, making their wines particularly popular with wine lovers around the world.

2. Italy

Italy is the second largest wine producer in the world. The country has historically always been one of the world’s leading wine producing countries and produces some of the world’s most popular wines. From Northern Italy to the sun-drenched vineyards of Sicily, Italy offers wine lovers a large number of globally recognized wine regions and the country has the highest number of native grape varieties in the world, with over 350 official wine grape varieties. Italy is therefore known for its prized red wines such as Chianti, Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino, but also for its sparkling wines such as Prosecco, one of the world’s most popular sparkling wines.

3. Spain

Spain is the third largest wine producer in the world. Spain has an impressive and rapidly growing winemaking culture in the country’s vast and diverse vineyards. In fact, Spain has the largest area of ​​vineyards in the world, totaling over 975,000 hectares. Rioja and Ribera del Duero are known for their powerful red wines, while the Catalan sparkling wine Cava is increasingly competing with many Champagne wines. Spanish wines are also known for their relatively affordable prices.

4. USA

The USA has established itself as the fourth largest wine producer in the world. While the other American west coast states of Washington and especially Oregon are also gaining increasing attention in the wine world, almost 90% of all American wines still come from California. Napa Valley in particular has become a household name, with wines sold all over the world. Although American wines do not yet enjoy quite the same level of appreciation as European wines, they are valued for their bold flavors and innovative approaches.

5. Chile

Chile completes the top 5 largest wine producing countries in the world. occupies sixth place among the largest wine producing countries in the world. Chile’s extremely unique geography with its long coastline and the Andes mountain range, one of the highest mountains on earth, offers the most ideal conditions for viticulture in the world. The country’s wines are typically based on European grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Carmenere, which adapt perfectly to the Chilean environment.

6. Australia

Australia is the sixth largest wine producing country in the world. Although Australia’s winemaking tradition dates back to the first half of the 19th century, it is only in recent decades that the country has established itself as a major wine-producing country. The Barossa Valley is the country’s most important wine-producing region, followed by McLaren Vale, among others. Australia is particularly well known for its Shiraz wines, a grape variety that originated in France but is now most commonly associated with Australian wines around the world.

7. South Africa

South Africa is the seventh largest wine producing country in the world. The South African wine industry dates back to the 17th century, but has also made particular progress in recent decades, gaining a global reputation for producing distinctive and high-quality, yet relatively affordable wines. The Western Cape province is the heart of South African wine production, with its wine regions of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Constantia known for their variety of Chenin Blanc, Pinotage and Sauvignon Blanc wines.

8. Argentina

Argentina ranks eighth among the world’s largest wine producers. The country is gaining increasing international recognition for its wines, which come from the mountainous western parts of the country. Argentina’s Mendoza region alone accounts for over 70% of the country’s wine production, although the regions around San Juan and La Rioja are also gaining importance. Malbec, a grape that thrives in the high-altitude vineyards of Mendoza, has become the basis for many of Argentina’s best-known wines.

9. Germany

Germany is the ninth largest wine producer in the world. Germany’s main wine-growing regions are in the southwest of the country. The country is particularly known for its famous Riesling grape. Germany is the world’s largest producer of Riesling, accounting for over 40% of the world’s Riesling acreage alone. Aside from Rieslings, German wines are also characterized by their elegance and ability to age gracefully, especially those from the steep vineyards along the Moselle and Rhine.

10. Portugal

Portugal completes the list of the top ten wine producing countries in the world. Portugal has a rich winemaking tradition that goes back several centuries. The country is best known worldwide for its fortified wine, Port, which has been produced for over 300 years. However, the country also produces many table wines. While Portugal remains primarily known for its leading Port wines, Portuguese table wines are increasingly gaining recognition around the world.

The 10 largest wine producing countries in the world: