Bordeaux, France - US consumers were the world's top wine drinkers in 2011, while China displaced Britain to become the fifth largest wine consumer, according to new research released on Thursday.

US consumers downed the equivalent of 3.7 billion bottles of wine, while China including Hong Kong drank 1.9 billion bottles, according to data released by trade show Vinexpo and International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR).

Old World wine drinkers in Italy, France and Germany clung to second, third and fourth places respectively but the New World and the Far East caught the limelight, showed the study of 114 consumer markets and 28 producer countries.

"China is fascinating certainly," said Robert Beynat, CEO of Vinexpo, whose upcoming show in Hong Kong is sold out. "But don't forget about America. America is and will remain the main market in the world in terms of value and volume."

The IWSR study predicts US wine consumption to grow 10 per cent between 2011 and 2015. During the same period, it forecasts growth of 54.3 per cent for the combined China-Hong Kong market.

In both markets, per capita consumption is also on the rise. By 2015, US consumers are expected to be drinking 13 litres per adult per year, while in China they should be drinking an average of 1.9 to 2.0 litres per adult.

Europe currently accounts for 62 per cent of world wine consumption, but that figure is likely to drop, with IWSR predicting tepid growth of 0.4 per cent from 2011 to 2015.

In key European markets, French, Italian and British per capita consumption is set to fall, by 4.4 per cent, 2.7 per cent, and 4.3 per cent respectively. Germany is the European exception, with a forecast rise of 2.1 per cent.

Global wine consumption is predicted to grow 6.2 per cent between 2010 and 2015, reaching 34.1 billion bottles, an increase of two billion bottles.

And tipplers are trading up.

Between 2006 to 2010, wine retailing for US$10 (S$12) or more per bottle grew 14.7 per cent, while the US$5 to US$10 range grew 10.7 per cent and low-priced wines retailing for less than US$5 grew at a weak 0.95 per cent.

"Globally speaking, the world is - on average - drinking more and better," said Beynat.

In wine exports, the French are holding their lead in terms of value, with exports worth US$8.4 billion in 2010, up 1.9 per cent from 2006.

Italy leads in volume, showing a 30-per cent increase between 2006 and 2010, with 2010 exports bringing in US$5.1 billion. Spanish wine exports earned US$2.4 billion in 2010.