Italian Wine Export Up 9%
Staff Writer - June 16, 2006
 Based on ISTAT data concerning foreign trade in the first quarter of 2005, Coldiretti announced that there has been record 9% growth in value for 'Made in Italy' wine worldwide. Particular successes were recorded in the United States (up 18%) and in emerging countries, such as Russia (up 20%) and China (up 132%), while traditional imports within the European Union have shown a decrease (-2%).
Though half the value of exports of Italian wine comes from the European Union, where though the demand is flat, strong increases – according to the Coldiretti – are to be found in the United States, which absorb over one quarter of Italian wine exports, as well as in consumer countries such as Russia, China and India.
These 2006 data show possible new, significant growth opportunities for Italian wine, which in 2005 reached a record turnover of €9 billion (check current value in other currencies). The positive outlook for the current year is the results of limited production (48.1 million hectoliters, or slightly over 1,270 million gallons) of good quality wine production, of which almost one third, or 15 million hectoliters (over 396 million gallons), is destined to DOC or DOCG wines.
"A clear preference for quality," pointed out the Coldiretti, "has made wine one of the most authoritative ambassadors of Italy in the world, so much so that the results of a Piepoli Institute research study commissioned by the Leonardo Institute and the ICE, shows that for almost one foreigner out of two (45%), 'wine and food are the first things that come to mind when they think of Italy, more than the places of interest (20%), clothing (19%) and soccer (15%)'."
"It is a heritage composed of images for national enterprises which," continues the Coldiretti, "should be defended against imitations and unfair competition based on the lack of transparency in information on the characteristics of products in reference to aging processes and techniques used, such as the use of wood chips to age the wine without clear labeling, which tricks consumers and damages the producers who follow the traditional techniques, such as ageing wine in wooden cask and barrels."
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