As Americans’ taste for wine continues to rise, so has the US market for the libation which soared ahead of France as the world’s largest wine market last year, according to the Beverage Information & Insights Group.

According to the group’s recent 2014 Wine Handbook, the wine category increased 1.9 percent last year to 325.4 million 9-liter cases. Production and consumption levels were also at an all-time high.

Relaxed restrictions on direct winery shipments contributed to the wine industry's success in 2013, with shipments from Napa Valley representing almost half of the total value.

Table wine grew 2 percent over the previous year while domestic and imported wine saw a 2.5 percent increase and 0.2 percent increase respectively. Champagne and sparkling wine market increased for the 12th year in a row at a rate of 2.6 percent.