China has joined the world's top five wine markets while becoming the 6th largest wine-producer, according to a new survey for VINEXPO Asia-Pacific.

The VINEXPO/ IWSR (International Wine and Spirit Research) study now places China ahead of the UK as the 5th largest wine consumer, with the United States on top ahead of Italy and France.

The study found China’s wine consumption, including Hong Kong, grew by 33.4 percent in just one year from 2009 and 2010. It forecasts 54.25 percent growth between 2011 and 2015 – the equivalent of a billion more bottles.

The annual IWSR survey covers 28 producing countries and 114 consumption markets.

Among notable trends identified in China, red wine accounts for 91 percent of total consumption, but a 19 percent increase in white wine consumption in 2011 from 2010 indicates that Chinese drinkers are growing fonder of whites.

In the meantime, imported wines accounted for 15 percent in 2010, with France the leading supplier, accounting for 42.74 percent of total imports, ahead of Australia. In value terms, non-Chinese wines represented 37.4 percent of total sales.