The U.S. surpassed France as the world's largest wine-consuming nation in 2010, with wine shipments to the U.S. from California, other states and foreign producers growing 2% from the previous year to nearly 330 million cases, a record high for the industry.

Wine industry consultant Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates compiles the statistics.

The estimated retail value of these sales was $30 billion, up 4% from 2009.

California wine accounted for a 61% volume share of the total U.S. wine market, with sales at 199.6 million cases, up 1% from the previous year. The retail value was $18.5 billion. California's total wine shipments worldwide to all markets in the U.S. and abroad were 241.8 million cases, up 2% from the previous year.

"U.S. wine market conditions remain highly competitive, but we are optimistic that this growth trend will continue," said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, President and CEO of Wine Institute. "Americans are increasingly interested in a lifestyle with wine and food, demonstrated by the presence of wineries in all 50 states and 17 consecutive years of growth in U.S. wine consumption."

Added Jon Fredrikson of The Gomberg-Fredrikson Report: "Wine consumption is still a low 2.6 gallons per capita, but the adult population is growing every year as echo boomers come of age and adopt wine just as their baby boomer parents did."