Vinitaly, the world’s leading wine fair, is held in Verona, Italy. During its 56th edition, the wine industry saw some positive news amidst global conflicts. Despite the tensions, wine exports have shown a significant growth of 188% over the past 20 years, reaching a value of 7.8 billion euros. This makes wine the leading item of Made in Italy agri-food abroad, according to Coldiretti President Ettore Prandini.
The new generation of wine producers was also showcased at Vinitaly. There are around 5500 Italian farmers under the age of 35 who are involved in wine production, with one out of every ten companies owned by young individuals having a vineyard. The emergence of this new generation is bringing fresh ideas and innovation to the wine sector, which is attracting more attention from consumers worldwide.
Another trend that was observed during Vinitaly was the rise of wine tourism. In 2023, a total of 6 million nights were spent among vineyards by Italian and foreign wine tourists in various agritourism facilities, bed & breakfasts, and holiday homes located near vineyards. This shows that people are increasingly interested in experiencing the beauty and culture of Italy through its famous vineyards. Additionally, 15 million tourists had cellar experiences at wineries across Italy, contributing to the 2.5 billion euro turnover generated by wine tourism in Italy.
Overall, Vinitaly provided some comforting news for the world’s wine industry amidst global turmoil. The resilience and growth of Italian winemakers continue to shine through despite global conflicts.