In the midst of two ongoing conflicts in the world, Italy’s wine sector saw some positive news. Over the past 20 years, wine exports have experienced a significant growth of 188%, nearly tripling in value to reach 7.8 billion euros. This makes wine the leading item of Made in Italy agri-food abroad, as noted by Coldiretti President Ettore Prandini.
One of the highlights of Vinitaly’s 56th edition was the emergence of a new generation of wine producers. The wine industry has become increasingly popular among businesses run by individuals under the age of 35. Coldiretti reports that there are around 5500 Italian farmers in this age group who are involved in wine production, with one out of every ten companies owned by young individuals having a vineyard.
A significant trend observed during Vinitaly 2024 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. Coldiretti also notes that 15 million tourists had cellar experiences, contributing to the 2.5 billion euro turnover of wine tourism in Italy.
Overall, these numbers highlight the resilience and adaptability of Italy’s wine sector in the face of global challenges.
