Well, you ended the post with "WHY?" so you've invited some comment. Here's mine.
Most people of any nationality eat really easy food more often than complex gourmet meals. Americans, particularly young professionals (25-50 years old) tend to eat out more than dine at home. Dietary habits vary considerably. Folks in urban areas, particularly upper-middle-class areas, with access to a wide range of restaurants will eat more wine-friendly foods. (It must be obvious that a Big Mac and a glass of Grange probably isn't common.)
How very egalitarian of you to acknowledge the trainability of "most Americans.". Again, most people of any nationality can learn to distinguish between good, great and plonk. Be sure when stereotyping Americans to allow some latitude for individual taste.
Most Americans have never seen a copy of Wine Spectator and they only know of Martha Stewart through TV coverage of her trial or by seeing her name on towels and placemats at K-Mart.
Fun wines are found in every price range. People cluster around what they can comfortably afford.
Sure, and there are some great red wines that are great for sipping before and after meals as well.
It is easy, and for most, the apprehension about doing the wrong thing goes away quite quickly. In other words, the premise of your question doesn't really hold up.
Ed Rasimus Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret) "When Thunder Rolled" Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN #1-58834-103-8
Because the whole wine thing has been usurped by the high minded and given us such phrases "a taste of apricots with the lingering smell of apples on a spring day, finishing with the lightness of wood chips".
This is not so simple as
great wines.>>>
Then again, part of the wine problem is that you do spend a fair amount of money on a wine, even at your 10-18USD range you take the chance on a wine that is less than you had wanted (hoped). Add that to the fact that when you do find a wine you like, it is not so easy to allways find that wine again. I mean if you like XX beer you just go and buy another six pack. But if you like XX wine you may have a harder time finding it than just popping in the store and buying it. Or perhaps it was only that one year's vintage.
DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.