Italy has been known as one of the world’s top wine-producing and drinking countries for years. While the latter is still true, and Italy remains the world’s leading wine exporter, Italians do not drink as much wine as they used to.
The average Italian drinks only 0.1 liters of wine daily, which is about 12 cups. Of fact, some Italians drink far more than this, while others do not drink at all. However, the national average is one-half cup per day.
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How Much Wine Does The Average Italian Drink Per Day?
Based on the number of people living in Italy and the amount of wine drank yearly, an Italian consumes barely half a cup daily. These figures, however, are based on the entire population, which includes children. When we think about how many people are under 16, the amount of wine they drink daily goes up to between 3/4 and 1 cup.
However, as in the rest of the world, not everyone consumes the same amount of wine. Because wine is frequently served with meals, many Italians drink one to two glasses of wine per day. Some people, however, do not drink wine at all.
The amount of wine Italians consume daily has decreased by an astounding 23% since 2006. Italians consumed an average of 5.6 drinks per week during the period, but they nowadays consume less than 4.3 drinks per week. This decrease in wine consumption is attributed in part to the risks of excessive alcohol intake and, in part, to the recent rise in popularity of craft brews in Italy.
Does Wine In Italy Have Less Alcohol?
One of the reasons Italian wine is so outstanding is that most varieties contain less alcohol than wine from other regions of the world. However, the amount of alcohol in a wine is totally determined by its intended use. Commercial products that are exported have no less alcohol than most homemade wines. On the other hand, some specialty Italian wines contain less alcohol than usual.
The idea that Italian wine has less alcohol most likely goes back to ancient Rome. Romans and Italians drank huge amounts of wine throughout that time period. While the wine did not necessarily contain less alcohol than modern wine, it was mixed with water. The wine was mixed with water to make it less alcoholic and last longer. This is no longer common practice nowadays.
What Is Considered Heavy Drinking In Italy?
The standard for heavy drinking in Italy is comparable to that of the rest of the globe. Heavy drinkers are women who consume more than 40 grams of alcohol per day and males who consume more than 60 grams of alcohol per day. To put this in the setting, a small glass of wine has typically 10 grams of alcohol, but bigger glasses often include 15 to 20 grams.
In 2016, 460,000 Italian males and 260,000 Italian women were heavy drinkers. This suggests that approximately 5% of Italian people are heavy drinkers.
What Percent Of Italians Drink Alcohol?
Wine and alcohol are commonly drunk in Italy. However, while Italy has a historical reputation for excessive alcohol consumption, this is no longer an issue today. According to research by Italy’s National Health Institute, 55% to 65% of Italian adults take alcohol.
Compared to Italy, 85.5% of adults in the United States over 18 claimed to have drunk alcohol at some point in their lives. Over 69% of Americans drink alcohol annually, and 55% drink alcohol weekly or monthly. Considering this, Italy is no longer at the top of the alcohol consumption list.
The significant decline in alcohol use in Italy is mostly due to a growing understanding of the risks of alcohol. Like the rest of the world, Italians are discovering that drinking too much wine and alcohol is bad for one’s health.
Do Italians Make Their Own Wine?
On a commercial basis, Italy is the world’s biggest producer and exporter of wine. Italy is also at the top of the list for homemade wine. For generations, Italy has taken pride in producing handmade wine for personal and commercial consumption.
Homemade wine is also a tradition in Italian American households. Throughout the 1900s, millions of Italians immigrated to the United States, bringing a passion for homemade wine. While the number of people making their own wine in Italy and America is decreasing, it is still pretty standard.
What Makes Italian Wine Different?
The astonishing volume of grapes used to produce Italian wine distinguishes it from its competitors. Italy boasts the most diverse grape and wine choices of any country in the world, with over 600 different wine grapes.
Italians also create wine differently than many other countries. Traditional Italian wine contains less alcohol, higher acidity, and a lighter overall body than other types of wine. Because of this combination of characteristics, as well as some of the best grapes in the world, Italian wine tastes better to the majority of wine lovers than other varieties of wine.
What Is Italy’s Most Popular Wine?
In terms of popularity, a few Italian wines stand out. When it comes to white wine, the most widely utilized grape is the Garganega grape, which is used to manufacture Soave wine. While white wine is popular in Italy, red wine is preferred.
In terms of total popularity, Barolo is Italy’s most popular wine. Barolo is often regarded as the king of red wines and ranks second in popularity and quality in Italy.
Catherine Previti is a seasoned wine enthusiast with over 8 years of experience in wine tasting and beverage curation. Holding a degree in Viticulture and Enology, she shares expert insights on Vedrinks.com, helping readers navigate the world of wine with confidence. Connect with Catherine on Instagram.
