VINITALY 2019, LET'S TAKE STOCK

Vinitaly 2019, the 53rd edition of the international trade show dedicated to wine and spirits, takes stock of the health of Italy's domestic market. Much less is being drunk compared to the mid-1990s (over 25% less), but the consumer base has widened, even though the average consumption is below one glass per day.

Less is being drunk, then, but the wine market is holding strong and generates an estimated value of 14.3 billion euros on a sales volume of nearly 23 million hectoliters. In the comparison between the leading markets by consumer spending, Italy ranks 4th after the USA, France, and the United Kingdom. Italy's vineyard landscape is estimated at 650,000 hectares, with 406 denominazione wines and over 300,000 producers contributing to the wonderful biodiversity of the vineyard and the astonishing diversification of our national offering.

We take stock with the President and Managing Director of Veronafiere S.p.A., Maurizio Danese and Giovanni Mantovani.

According to Veronafiere President Maurizio Danese: "For the first time we have estimated the consumer value of the world's largest market for our producers. The figure, which exceeds 14 billion euros, speaks volumes about how much the sector impacts not only the supply chain but also services and Horeca."

For Italians, wine is essentially tradition and culture, confirms Veronafiere Managing Director Giovanni Mantovani: "For Italians, wine goes beyond status symbol, representing a fundamental piece of national culture, unlike other consumer countries. And Vinitaly is a brand recognized as a flagship: Vinitaly aims to speak through every possible channel."

Mantovani continues: "One of the defining figures of this edition of Vinitaly was the further 3% increase in buyers present at the trade show, recording as many as 33,000 attendees. This is the result of further resources invested in incoming activity, with selective invitations directed at 50 target countries, also thanks to collaboration with Agenzia ICE. In the top five of origins among international operators, the United States leads (+2% over 2018), followed by Germany (+4%), United Kingdom (+9%). Off the podium: China (+3%) and Canada (+18%)."

An overall picture that confirms a sector in good health across the board, with clear guidelines aimed at an increasingly pronounced and necessary internationalization.