The US market remains the leader in Italian wine imports, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom, the latter with an impressive increase of 11.5%. Despite a decline in France and Switzerland, countries such as Canada and Russia show significant increases.
The sparkling wine segment, driven by Prosecco DOP, saw growth of 11.2%, demonstrating robustness and expansion potential also in Asian markets, with Japan and China showing increases in imports.
Wine Trends in Italy: A Look at the Future
The Italian wine industry faces a phase of change and challenges, with a particular focus on the next harvest while still managing significant inventories. As of June 30, according to the "Cantina Italia" report by ICQRF, there are 43.5 million hectoliters of wine in the cellar, a figure that reflects a decrease of 12.2% compared to the previous year, and a 2023 production between the lowest recorded.
Over half of the wine stored is classified as PDO, highlighting a predominance of wines with a protected designation of origin. Prosecco Doc leads the "ranking" of stocks with 4.2 million hectoliters.
At the same time, Italian organic wine shows a bitter-sweet reality with the loss of almost 4 thousand hectares in 2023, despite an overall growth of organic surfaces of 4.5%. This context underlines the challenges introduced by the new common agricultural policy (CAP) 2023/27.
The global alcoholic beverages market sees a slow recovery prospect from 2025, with an estimated growth of 1% per year until 2028. However, wine could face greater difficulties than beers and spirits, with volumes expected to decline by - 1% per year in the medium term.
Despite global difficulties and a decrease in consumption in key markets such as the USA, the Italian wine sector is not in crisis. Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of the Italian Wine Union, emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value of Italian wine, which contributes significantly to GDP and employment in Europe, and calls for government action to further develop the market.
In summary, the wine industry in Italy navigates challenges and opportunities, with the need to adapt to an evolving economic and regulatory context, while maintaining a leadership role in the European and global wine landscape.
Despite global challenges, the Italian wine sector maintains a growth trend, with a particularly active market in the premium segment and increasing adaptability to satisfy the tastes of young consumers. This period was characterized by a dynamic strategy that could establish the basis for further strengthening of the sector in the months to come.
