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Issue 401 - December 31st - January 4th - Expressly created for 11.897 wine lovers,
professionals and opinion leaders from all over the world |
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A niche and for enthusiasts, but the investment in fine wine is more profitable than other sectors. Also in the capital market. In particular, the Liv-Ex 100 and Liv-Ex 100 grew by 213.9% and 258.2% respectively in three quarters, while Standard & Poor’s 500, which brings together the 500 largest US companies by capitalization, grew “only” by 143.9% in the same period, while Ftse 100, the most capitalized index of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, grew by 59.2%. In the last 12 months, if the Liv-Ex 100 has closed substantially at par, the Liv-Ex 1000 has grown by 9%, while the stock market indices, according to the English platform, are all decreasing. |
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2018 is about to end, it was after all, another positive year of growth for Italian wine and also the sentiment for 2019, although in the past 12 months critical issues emerged to be fixed as soon as possible: from the slowdown of still wines to exports, “masked” by the growth of Prosecco, to a recovery in internal consumption much less solid than expected. But it was, however, a year of growth, or in the worst case scenario, for the big brands of Italian wine, which is not an obvious conclusion, if you consider that the 2017 vintage was the poorest in the last 50 years, to the point that, in some cases, wine was not produced, especially for the wines from faster rotation. It emerges from the sentiment of managers, producers and the balance sheets of 15 of the largest Italian companies in terms of turnover, among the absolute leaders of the wine industry, tested by WineNews. From the Italian Wine Group (Giv) to Antinori, from Mezzacorona to Santa Margherita, from Banfi to Schenk, from Zonin to Ruffino, from Caviro to Cantina di Soave, from Gruppo Lunelli (Ferrari) to Masi, from Frescobaldi to Villa Sandi, to Gruppo Terra Moretti, which, in 2017, have put together a total turnover of more than 2.1 billion euros, more or less a fifth of the total turnover of wineries in Italy. For a third of the sample, 2018, will close with substantial stability of turnover, positive data, because it means, considering the scarcity of product, that the average prices have been increased. Another third of the companies reported limited growth, between +2% and +5%, while three companies reported growth between 5% and 10%, and only two companies estimated +20%. This is due to exports which, in line with what the companies expressed to WineNews, should reach 6.2 billion euros in 2018, slightly up in 2017. Thanks, essentially, to Prosecco since still wines struggle the most. On the domestic market, on the other hand, almost all companies show that the recovery in consumption, at least in large-scale distribution, has not been as solid as expected and hoped, while some positive signs are coming from the Horeca channel. Quite enough, despite the many unknowns on the table, starting with Brexit, and looking forward to 2019 with serenity. |
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The only way to grow in the wine industry, especially for those who produce wine with their own vineyards and grapes, is to improve the quality, raise prices and increase the blend of their products. This is the “recipe” created in 2018 by Italy’s first private wine company by turnover, Antinori, one of the most important names on the Italian and world wine scene. “2018 was a positive year for the harvest and sales - said Piero Antinori, pioneer of the expansion of Italian wine in the world, in recent days in Florence - and for next year we still expect a slight growth. We cannot grow much, we only make our products in our own vineyards. However, we improve the mix of products, the quality every year, and we manage to sell them at a higher and adequate price”. An Antinori has not excluded further possible acquisitions. |
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Comparing the great territories of Italian wine to cycling, we might say that, for charm and prestige, Montalcino and Brunello are the slopes of Mortirolo and Zoncolan. Considering cycling as metaphor, Castello Banfi, already at the top, “extends” its detachment in the ranking of hectares of vineyards: the leader of the territory, from rumors WineNews, has just acquired 14 hectares, of which 2 registered with Brunello di Montalcino, and a half in IGT Tuscany, in addition to a villa that overlooks towards the Maremma, Monte Amiata and the fourteenth-century Castle of Poggio Alle Mura, formerly of Castello Banfi. 173.2 the hectares owned by Brunello di Montalcino (out of more than 900 vineyards in the area), “pressing the pedal”, it detaches Castelgiocondo, the estate of the Marchesi Frescobaldi, which has 166 hectares of Brunello. Frescobaldi, however, in the “team ranking”, would be first, for hectares of Brunello (179, in total), thanks to the 13 of the Tenuta Luce, from which the wines of Luce Della Vite are produced. A deal, signed by Castello Banfi, which once again confirms the vivacity of Montalcino from the point of view of investment, and where, according to the latest estimates, one hectare of Brunello di Montalcino is planted on prices that are close to 900,000 euros. |
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2019, great wine lovers already have an unmissable date to mark in the calendar: on April 12, 2019 the new winery of Masseto will be officially presented, one of the iconic wines of Italy in the world, one of the best known labels on a global level, and for years dominating the major international auctions. A new house ready to open its doors, as already anticipated to WineNews by Ceo Giovanni Geddes da Filicaja, but already operational, so much so that the 2018 vintage was the first to find a home in the house of the great Bolgheri red wine. |
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Masseto is the most expensive wine in Italy, Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice di Avignonesi is the favorite of international critics: here is the 2018 balance sheet of Wine-Searcher, the historic US portal dedicated to wine. On the podium of the “Best Italian Wine”, those capable of winning the scores of wine critics from around the world, together with the Occhio di Pernice climb the Barolo Riserva Monfortino by Giacomo Conterno and the Masseto, then the Sorì San Lorenzo di Gaja and, in fifth place, the Sassicaia di Tenuta San Guido. As for the “Most Expensive Italian Wine”, behind the Masseto, at 644 euros per bottle, Toscana IGT di Case Basse by Gianfranco Soldera (508 euros) and Brunello di Montalcino by Tenuta Greppo - Biondi Santi (474 euros). |
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It is still too early for a final balance, but 2018 of Italian wine exports, according to estimates, will mark a new record value, at 6.1 billion euros, slightly higher than in 2017. This trend has been surrogate by data, albeit partial, from ISTAT, which tells us that the main Italian wine markets are growing or stable, with some countries falling slightly. At the end of September, exports of wine , reached 4.4 billion euros, up 3.7% over the first nine months of 2017. USA still at the top, at 1.07 billion euros. |
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