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News
Italy’s share of global wine market hits 22%
Italy has snatched a 22% share of the global wine export market following a record-breaking export year.
National statistics agency ISTAT reported exports of Italian wine were up 12% to more than €4.4 billion.
Volume exports were also up, by 9%, to 24m hectolitres, giving Italy a 22% share of the global wine market, according to the agency.
Germany was the leading importer of Italian wine by volume last year, while in value terms, the US proved the most significant export market, followed by Germany and the UK.
In terms of regions, Prosecco led the charge, with a surge in shipments of more than 17% to the US.
Giovanni Mantovani, director general of Veronafiere – organises of Vinitaly – said there had been “a growth of professionalism” among Italian producers of all sizes.
“Alongside great names, it’s now easier to find small producers who are appreciated in restaurants and wine bars around the world,” he said.
Italy outstripped France to become the world’s biggest wine producer in 2010, bottling nearly 5bn litres of wine.
More than 4,200 producers are due to exhibit their wines at Vinitaly, which will be held on 25-28 March in Verona.