Over 12,000 professional operators, more than 2,500 buyers (about 22% of the total) from 60 countries: this are the numbers of Vinitaly Special Edition, the three-days fair that Veronafiere and the city of Verona dedicated to Made in Italy wine. Vinitaly Special Edition anticipated the 54th edition of Vinitaly, the renowned international wine exhibition, that is scheduled from 10 to 13 April 2022.
“This result goes far beyond our expectations” said the president of Veronafiere, Maurizio Danese. “Companies, consortia, agricultural and supply chain associations and operators rewarded this business initiative project with a high rate of contacts and sales, as well as a unanimous index of satisfaction. We are experiencing a strong recovery in which Veronafiere plays a fundamental driving role for the internationalization of SMEs and Italian wine“.
Representatives of the Italian government also expressed satisfaction with how the event turned out. “The special edition of Vinitaly confirms the revival of Made in Italy wine after the pandemic. What we saw in Verona is more than positive”, said undersecretary for Agriculture Gian Marco Centinaio.
Positive signs for the entire Italian wine sector emerged clearly also in an analysis published by Coldiretti, the Italian farmers’ union. Sales of made in Italy wine reached a record value of over €12 billion in 2021, well beyond the figures registered before the pandemic. This result is mainly driven by exports, which increased by 15% worldwide and reached for the first time a value of more than €7 billion, but domestic and family purchases also contributed, increasing by 9.7% in first nine months of the year.
Exports were mainly driven by trade with the United States that thanks to a 19% increase in sales remained the first non-European market for Italian wine. Sales in China grew by 67%, but the European market remained more relevant. In France, sales of made in Italy wine grew by 17%, in Russia by 39%, while in Germany they grew by 5%, even if the country remained the first European market for Italian Wine. Less positive news came from the United Kingdom, where exports suffered the consequences of Brexit, even if the British came second among European customers, thanks above all to their love for prosecco.
Vinitaly Special Edition confirmed the positive trend that the Italian fair sector already showed with events such as Salone del Mobile, Macfrut and Cibus. Proof was the participation of buyers and operators from all over the world. As for the countries taking part in Vinitaly Special Edition, Europe (with Northern countries, Germany and France in front), Russia, the United States and Canada lead demand for Italian wine at the trade fair, followed by Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom and China, once again back in Verona.
“This geography” commented Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere, “is perfectly aligned with the growth figures seen on international market. We upheld our declared commitment to organise a highly qualified Special Edition thanks also to the support of the Italian Trade Agency, with international operators arriving precisely from the areas where Italian wine is growing significantly“.
Operators and buyers showed a particular interest in the areas dedicated to organic wines. There was also positive feedback for the Mixology masterclass calendar and the Sol & Agrifood and Enolitech events.
