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After a sharp turnaround, Italian wine consumption has increased by 8% over the last five years. This is what emerges from an analysis by Coldiretti based on OIV data.

In Italy

Italy with 22.6 million hectolitres in 2017 is ranked third among the largest consumers, behind the United States with 32.7 million and a growth of 5.7% in the five-year period, and France with 27 million.

However it does register a 2.8% decline over the period considered.

“The trend of increasing consumption in Italy – underlines Coldiretti – is second only to China, which thanks to a growth of 8.2% in the five-year period ranks fifth in the consumer countries with 17.9 million hectoliters, behind to Germany with 20.1 million but with a stagnant trend (-1.3%) in the same period”.

“What is under way – remarks Coldiretti – is a revolution on the tables of Italians with a significant upswing in consumption and a focus on the quality of wine that has become the emblem of a “slow” living movement. This includes being attentive to the psycho-physical balance that helps one feel good about oneself, and a more regulated intake of alcohol”.

“This is demonstrated – Coldiretti specifies – in the boom in sommelier courses, but also the growing number of young people keen to be informed about the characteristics of the wines and the culture of tasting evident in the proliferation of wine bars. There’s also been a real boom in wine tourism that today generates a tourist turnover of almost 3 billion euro a year and has conquered its first historical regulatory framework in the last “manoeuvre”. This positive trend owes much to the young people who are keen to demonstrate the ability of wine to embody immaterial and symbolic values, ​​and their focus on mature, responsible consumption”.

“In reality – says Coldiretti – it is a global trend with wine consumption reaching 244 million hectolitres in 2017 with an overall increase of 2% in a year. In 2018 global production is estimated at 279 million hectolitres, with an increase of 13% compared to 2017 which had been affected by difficult climatic conditions”.

Italy with 48.5 million hectolitres is confirmed as the world’s leading producer, followed by France (46.4 million), Spain (40.9 million), the United States (23.9 million and Argentina (14, 5 million).

“Italian production, although increasing from last year, is practically in line with the average of the last decade and – underlines Coldiretti – in terms of quality it will be destined for over 70% for DOCG, DOC and IGT classifications; 332 wines with controlled denomination of origin (Doc), 73 wines with controlled and guaranteed denomination of origin (Docg), and 118 wines with a typical geographical indication (Igt) recognised in Italy and the remaining 30 percent for table wines”.

In Tuscany

“Wine is a very important theme for Tuscany – said Fabrizio Filippi, president of Coldiretti Toscana – where the vineyards are over 59 thousand hectares with a production of about 3 million and 500 thousand quintals of grapes that are transformed into 2 million and 800 thousand hectolitres of wine. Tuscany accounts for 6.3% of Italian wine, which puts the region in sixth place in terms of production quantity, and boasts the most prestigious names of origin of wines with 11 DOCG, 41 DOC and 6 IGT. The production of VQPRD exceeds 1,7 million hectolitres. Chianti is the most important part of the production of wines in Docg”.

“The wine sector, one of the strengths of Tuscan agriculture – says Antonio De Concilio, regional director – shows a great vitality, which translates into an increase in investments and in the deep reorganisation of companies and the supply chain, with a decisive breakthrough in quality that has allowed us to conquer the export market. The value of exports of Tuscan wines exceeds 900 million euros. In practice, one in five bottles of Italian wine drunk over the border comes from our region”.

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