Italian wine exports amounted to €5.6 billion in 2016, up by 4.3% on the previous year, according to data from the Italian Wine Union.

The leading export market, the US, saw a 5.5% growth in value, surpassing €1.35 billion. Sparkling wine, which grew by 31% in value and 24% by volume, has been leading this growth.

In view of the potential of the US market, the Italian Wine Union has teamed up with the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE) on a promotional campaign that will see €20 million invested over the next three years.

The second largest market for Italian wine exports, Germany, grew in 2016 by +1.7% in value (€977 million) and +0.5% by volume (5.56 million hectolitres). Germany has a special importance for Italian organic wine, being the first importer with a 38% stake.

The UK is the third largest export market and is worth €764 million (+2.3%). It is also the number one export market for Italian sparkling wines, with one million hectoliters in 2016, with a value of over €365 million (+33%).

Read more at source: ESM Magazine