(RTE) - China now has the second-largest wine-growing area in the world after Spain, pushing France into third place, according to figures released today by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine.

The figures for 2014 showed China had 799,000 hectares (1.97 million acres) of land devoted to wine growing, compared with 1.02 million hectares for Spain.

France remained the biggest producer of wine in the world, pumping out 47 million hectolitres last year. It also made the most from selling wine abroad, raking in more than €7.7 billion.

Meanwhile, the US is the biggest consumer, drinking some 31,000 hectolitres - 13% of the global intake - followed by France and Italy.

China has rapidly emerged as a major player in viniculture, accounting for 11% of the territory given over to vineyards last year, up from 4% in 2000.

The biggest importers of wine were Germany, the UK and the US - with total global trade valued at €26 billion.