Wine consumption declined 7.6% nationwide.

The decline--to 96.8 million cases--was led by table wines in the first half of 1985, according to Impact, which reports on wines and spirits. Sales of California table wines slumped 10.6% to 49.2 million cases, and imported wine sales were flat for the first time in years. However, total wine consumption increased 3.6% to 113.2 million cases due to the continuing rapid growth of wine coolers. Shipments of wine coolers increased to 16.4 million cases, a 11.2-million case increase over 1984’s first half, Impact reported.