For 1st Time, US Drinks More Wine Than France

Olympic golds pale in comparison to this national feat: The US last year consumed more wine than France. And it's just one of many full-bodied wine stats for 2010. The Los Angeles Times shares the signs that Americans are trading their recession-minded ways for a good (or, at least, decent) glass of red:

• Shoppers flocked to bottles priced at less than $7 during the peak of the recession; sales of $7 to $14 bottles were up 5% last year.

• Domestic wine sales were up 7% over 2009.
• And California's vinters saw sales increase 1%, to $18.5 billion.
• Wine exports were particularly rosy: up almost 26% to a record $1.14 billion.
• But be sure to have a glass or two with dinner tonight: The French still drink more per capita than we do.

(More wine stories.)