Looks like it's finally official: Studies have been saying for years that the U.S. would become the world's largest wine market by 2010. Today, the California Wine Institute put out a news release citing data from Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates saying that now it's official: the U.S. surpassed France as the world's largest wine-consuming nation last year. 

The market reached nearly 330 million cases with an estimated retail value of $30 billion.

That's one reason it's so competitive in the wine market these days. There are so many choices because wineries want to be in the largest market. 

Now, if per-capita wine consumption would increase a little bit. ... 

Some additional figures that are not in the release:

French consumption: 320.6 million cases - The US is at 329.7 million cases.

Shipments from California to U.S.: 199.6 million cases - Other States to U.S.: 24.9 million cases

Foreign bulk/bottled to U.S.: 105.2 million cases - Total to U.S. 329.7 million cases