Top News Reuters.com
NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters Life!) - Fans of women's golf are the biggest wine drinkers among sports fans in the United States, according to figures released on Thursday.
A study by market researcher Nielsen found wine consumption among U.S. sports fans increased to $81.40 in 2006, which was up $14.60 from 2005 which was in line with increasing consumption of wine in the United States.
But results also indicated that this increase in wine spending was slightly stronger among avid fans and certain fan bases among 12 different groups.
Households with at least one fan of the Ladies Professional Golf Association spent almost $125 on wine in 2006, which was up 17 percent over the year -- overtaking fans of men's golf.
Tennis fans came in second with wine consumption in households with at least one tennis fan rising nearly 20 percent in 2006 to $111.9 a household.
Fans of the PGA came in third, down from leading the pack in 2005, spending nearly 30 percent more on wine last year at $109.40 a household.
But the biggest gain in 2006 was among NFL Football fans who spent over 63 percent more on wine over the year at $94.30 per household.
Retail spending on wine in the United States grew seven percent last year from 2005 to $8.4 billion, according to the study.
A study commissioned by the organizers of the VinExpo trade fair in Bordeaux last June recently projected that the United States is set to overtake France in the next five years as the world's largest wine market.
Karen Ross of the California Wine Growers Association said company innovation and Americans' acceptance of wine over time explained the growing popularity of wine among sports fans.
She said age and image played a role in wine's appeal.
"Part of it is growing up with parents and grandparents who had wine with dinner," said Ross.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
