Amidst two ongoing war clashes in the world, there was some comforting news coming from Vinitaly. Over the past 20 years, wine exports have experienced a significant growth of 188%, nearly tripling in value to reach an impressive 7.8 billion euros. This makes wine the leading item of Made in Italy agri-food abroad, as noted by Coldiretti President Ettore Prandini.
During the 56th edition of Vinitaly, the emergence of a new generation of wine producers was showcased. The wine sector has become particularly popular among businesses run by individuals under the age of 35. According to Coldiretti, there are around 5500 Italian farmers in this age group who are involved in wine production, with one out of every ten companies owned by young individuals having a vineyard.
One significant trend observed during the 2024 edition of Vinitaly was the rise of wine tourism. In 2023, a total of 6 million nights were spent among vineyards by Italian and foreign wine tourists in various agritourism facilities, bed & breakfasts, and holiday homes located near vineyards. Coldiretti also reports that 15 million tourists had cellar experiences, contributing to the impressive 2.5 billion euro turnover of wine tourism in Italy.