| Food and drink have become a major part of | | | | making it the fourth biggest producer behind Italy, |
| most people's lives, in particular their social lives. | | | | France and Spain. In 2004, New World wines |
| In fact the phrase 'food and drink' produces over | | | | accounted for over 55% of total consumption in |
| 89 million hits on the Google website. | | | | the UK. |
| Excessiveness in either is of course unhealthy, but | | | | Exports of Australian wines have more than |
| perhaps this is one of the reasons why people | | | | quadrupled in the last decade to reach nearly 800 |
| see good food or good wine as something special, | | | | million litres in 2006, 22% of which went onto the |
| something to treat themselves with. | | | | UK market, approximately 176 million litres. |
| Guides to good food, wine and restaurants have | | | | Exports of New Zealand wines to the UK alone |
| become big business. Egon Ronay's 'Guide to the | | | | have increased from 8.1 million litres in 1997 to |
| Best Restaurants and Gastropubs in the UK' which | | | | 21.9 million litres in 2006. |
| provides detailed reviews of over 500 restaurants | | | | One factor in the explanation of this is an increase |
| and gastropubs has sold over 2 million copies. Its | | | | in the availability of fine wine in many |
| simple to compare style of awarding up to three | | | | supermarkets. Some figures place two-thirds of |
| stars to each restaurant is clearly a hit with | | | | UK wines sales in supermarkets. Increased |
| readers. | | | | demand and competition between large chain |
| 'The Good Food Guide' edited by Elizabeth Carter | | | | supermarkets have increased the variety of |
| sells itself as Britain's leading restaurant guide and | | | | wines and producers and made them more |
| is currently in it 56th edition, detailing over 1,500 | | | | accessible to the general public. |
| eateries from gastropubs to high end dining. | | | | A recent report by Vinexpo has predicted that |
| Fine wine guides are also a big seller, with books | | | | the UK will become Europe's biggest market for |
| such as Clarke's 'Fine Wine Guide: A Connoisseur's | | | | wine by 2010. The report which examined the |
| Bible' and Johnson-Bell's 'Good Food, Fine Wine: A | | | | worlds wine producers and consumers also |
| Practical Guide to Finding the Perfect Match' both | | | | predicted that by 2010 the UK wine sales would |
| readily available on the internet it is clear that | | | | be worth £5.5 billion, despite the fact that the |
| there is a high demand for such guides. | | | | UK paid the highest average price per bottle |
| This is not surprising as the United Kingdom is the | | | | (£3.11), which is equivalent to 28.5 litres per |
| second largest importer of wine in the world. | | | | capita compared to an average of 27 litres |
| Wine sales in the UK increased 25% between | | | | between 2001 and 2005. |
| 2001 and 2005. In 2004 the estimated wine | | | | The report also showed that between 2001 and |
| consumption was 1.2 billion litres. In particular | | | | 2005 Australia had overtaken France as the UK's |
| there has been an increase in the consumption of | | | | biggest supplier with imports rising 51%. Imports |
| so-called New World wines, for example those | | | | from countries such as the USA and South Africa |
| from Australia or the USA instead of traditional | | | | have also risen during this period which highlights |
| producers such as France. California now | | | | the trend toward New World wines. |
| produces 2 billion litres of wine every year, | | | | |