Italian sparkling wine. Made in Italy bubbles fly abroad
Italian sparkling wine is winning more and more enthusiasts abroad. According to Wine Monitor, which on the occasion of the year-end toasts publishes data on the sales of Italian sparkling wines, 2016 will close with a record increase in exports amounting to 1.2 billion euros. In contrast, France seems to hold steady at 2.7 billion, a slight decline (-1%) compared to 2015, while Spain stands at 415 million euros (-3%).
Italian Prosecco – the superstar of Italian sparkling wine – leads the positive trend of Italian exports, unlike the more prestigious French Champagne, which instead closes the year with the same export values as 2015 (or thereabouts, with a reduction around 1%), as well as Spanish Cava, which loses 3%.
The United Kingdom stands out among the largest buyers of Italian sparkling wine, where imports are growing by over 38%. The United States also performed well: imports of sparkling rose by 11%, with Italians representing around a third of the share. Similar trend in Canada (+9% total imports, +20% Italian imports), in Switzerland and in Germany.
