Rome, April 8 - The value of Italian wine consumed abroad for the first time last year was more than domestic sales, according to a report by agricultural consumer group Coldiretti.

Wine drinkers outside of Italy in 2010 spent 3.93 billion euros on wines like the celebrated Tuscan Brunello di Montalcino, a 12 percent jump from the prior year, according to the report by Rome-based Coldiretti.

Italian wine consumption last year fell 4.8 percent, to 3.89 billion euros.

The quantity of wine Italians drink has fallen by half over the past 30 years as bottled water takes pride of place in household spending on drinks, Coldiretti said in a separate report distributed Tuesday.

In 2010 a typical Italian family would spend 19.71 euros a month on mineral water, and around 12 euros on wine.

Meanwhile, more wine is consumed in the US than any other country - including Italy and France - providing a boost to major wine exporters.

In 2010, Americans bought almost 330 million cases of wine, compared to 321 million cases in France, the second-biggest consumer, according to a recent report prepared by US-based wine consulting agency Gomberg, Fredikson & Associations.

Globally, people drank 7.82 billion euros worth of Italian wine in 2010, compared with 7.6 billion euros in 2009. (IANS)