Italian wine producers achieved an important result in the first half of 2021. Imports from the most influential foreign markets, i.e. the 12 countries considered "Top Buyers", favored sales growth (+7.1% in 2021, compared to the first half of 2020) exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

The effect of Covid-19 post-emergency and the phenomenon of "revenge spending", which almost always occurs after a more or less long period of economic crisis, are certainly plaing an important role. These factors have greatly affected the significant growth in sales, especially if we compare the current data with those recorded before Covid-19. In fact, the numbers collected and published in the Vinitaly-Nomisma Wine Monitor report indicate an increase in sales (+ 6.8%) even compared to 2019, the year in which the pandemic was still a long way off.

The document, issued as an anticipation of the "Vinitaly Special Edition " (which will take place at Veronafiere, from 17 to 19 October) is focused on the growing trend of the Italian wine market :

The spurt of this first half of 2021 represents the sharpest growth trend recorded in recent years, and above all it counterbalances the forced stop of 2020.

Data for 2021: the main markets for Italian wine

Compared to 2020, Italian wines exceed sales expectations especially in China (+ 36.8%), Russia (+ 29.4%), Germany (+ 9.3%) and Canada (+2, 5%). The requests from the US market, on the other hand, are slightly below average (+ 1% compared to 2020), while the data are much more encouraging when compared to the year 2019 (+ 6%). 

Now let's see which products are most requested by foreign markets. Still Italian wines recorded a growth of 6.9% with an average price increase of 5.9%. Imports of sparkling wines also increased by 11.1%, with an average price decrease of 4.8%.

The growth of Italian wine sales in the world is an encouraging signal for a definitive recovery of the wine sector. This was confirmed by the general manager of Veronafiere, Giovanni Mantovani:

The sector has emerged, hopefully definitively, from an unprecedented crisis thanks to the fundamentals of its operators, their commercial organization and the strength of the Italian brand.

The data collected and analyzed by Nomisma-Wine Monitor are indicative of how much the post lockdown "Revenge Spending" phenomenon has affected this increase to the advantage of medium-high level products. Director Giovanni Mantovani also recognizes the fundamental role of this economic phenomenon and the opportunities for relaunching Italian wine in the world:

Today, in particular with our mos-representative wines, we are at the center of the phenomenon linked to post-Covid revenge spending: a driving effect to be intercepted, in order to consolidate market shares even more. 

Digital Import-Export Strategy and B2B Wine Marketplace

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