The number of wine drinkers in the Republic has doubled over the last 10 years, research showed today.
The study found a marked shift in the age group of those enjoying wine from an older to a younger generation with Australian wine being the State's favourite tipple.
The survey, carried out for the SuperValu chain of supermarkets, found the number of people with a liking for wine had increased from around 730,000 in 1990 to almost 1.5 million last year.
It said the 25 to 35 age group represented the largest group of wine drinkers. Over the last decade the number of wine drinkers in Ireland doubled from 728,000 in 1990 to 1,451,000 in 2004.
And with eight million cases set to be drunk in 2005 the report noted an average consumption of 17.4 litres of wine per capita compared to 20.1 litres in UK.
Australian wines as a whole saw a phenomenal 1.6 million cases sold in 2004, with a market share of 23.2 per cent.
Chilean wine is close behind at almost 1.5 million cases (21.5 per cent market share) with France losing market share to it's New World rivals but still a very respectable 1 million cases at 15.5 per cent.