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Issue 386 - September 17th - 21st - Expressly created for 11.897 wine lovers,
professionals and opinion leaders from all over the world |
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“The study of Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (additional geographic indications), is the first point in my program as I believe the territory is ready to be sub-divided into more homogeneous zones in order to satisfy the needs of both producers and consumers. There are more and more aficionados who are looking for wines that are closely linked to the territory of origin. The beauty of the Chianti Classico territory is that each and every part, every hill, every “village”, has different characteristics”. These are the comments, to WineNews, of the president of the Chianti Classico Consortium, Giovanni Manetti. |
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In the future of the world wine market, French wines will still be undisputable. Italian wines though, will be right behind them, gaining ground especially in Canada and China. Spain and Chile will continue to focus on price, and organic products will be the best performers in the top 3 categories, while Prosecco and Cava will continue to be ever more appreciated, and Chenin Blanc will be pushing its way up to nestle among the great international vines. These, in a nutshell, are the trends the Sopexa Wine Trade Monitor 2018 has forecasted for 2020. The report included the points of view of professionals in the sector (importers, agents, wholesalers, distributors and e-commerce pure players) from six key countries for wine trade: Belgium, the United States, Canada, China, Hong Kong and Japan. As mentioned above, French wines will remain at the top for 9 out of 10 professionals, followed by Italian wines (76%) and Spanish wines (71%). And, at the same time, Chile, Australia and the United States are becoming more and more important. 41% of professionals have indicated Italy in the countries of origin whose sales will progress most from today to 2020, while for one out of two, France will maintain its leading role, in particular in the US, Hong-Kong and Belgium, and Italian wines will instead give them a difficult time in China and Canada. Regarding the parameters of "the attractiveness of prices" Spain and Chile stand out ahead of Italy. Shifting our attention to different categories, for the first time organic wines are in the top 3 of the most promising (for over 35% of professionals), and the denominations will continue to sell, confirming as the criterion of greater also in 2020. The rosé category will continue to grow in North America. Among the regions that will lead the international markets, we find France at the top with Bordeaux, Languedoc, Côtes du Rhône and Burgundy, while the white wines of Marlborough (New Zealand), the rosé wines of Provence and Corsica will also be good and, for the bubbles, the most awaited and sought after on the markets will still be Prosecco and Cava. In terms of varieties, leaders will still be Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and the success of Chenin Blanc in the USA could be a new trend. |
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The Italian restaurants boasting the best wine List, selected by the magazine “World of Fine Wine” are: Piazza Duomo in Alba, chef Enrico Crippa in the kitchen and Vincenzo Donatiello curating the wine list; Il Duomo in Ragusa Ibla, chef Ciccio Sultano and the sommelier Antonio Currò (also awarded among the Jury Prizes), Reale di Castel di Sangro, Niko Romito in the kitchen and the historic sommelier Gianni Sinesi in the dining room, and Villa Fiordaliso, renowned restaurant on Lake Garda. The list, along the lines of the Michelin guide, each year assigns stars (from one to three, but we must wait a few more days to find out, ed.) and awards the wine lists of the best restaurants in the Wine List Awards, the highest recognition for the role and the work of sommeliers in fine dining. There are, however, no Italian restaurants among the top winners in the different categories. |
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In the first six months of 2018, Italy exported wine products for a value of 2.9 billion euros, +4.1% increase compared to 2017. The Veneto region alone counts for one third of all Italian wine exports, and together with Piedmont and Tuscany, these three Regions brought in 1.9 billion euros. One of the possible interpretations of the Qualivita Wine Observatory, on ISTAT data for the first 6 months of 2018 is that besides regional production, customs clearance numbers also bear their weight and count, showing the extent of the Italian wine business, which is widespread throughout the national territory and, at the same time, particularly focused on values. Looking into the details of the report, it reveals that the Veneto region exported wine for 1.03 billion euros, registering 3.6% growth compared to 2017, and weighing 35.3% on the value of national exports. Following Veneto, and really just a few thousand euros apart, there is Piedmont, at 456 million euros (+6.4%) and Tuscany at 455 million euros (+1.9%). In fourth position, we find Trentino Alto Adige, at an exported value of 262 million euros (+1% compared to 2017), and Emilia Romagna at 149 million euros (+1.3%). In the category of above 100 million euros of wine exported, there is also Lombardy, at 139 million euros (+6.5%). |
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The conviviality of the Abbona family, at the helm of Marchesi di Barolo, won the "Wine Spectator Video Contest" 2018 with the video “The Soul of Barolo”, made by “Fremont Films”, which received the most votes of the six finalists. The story is about Valentina and her family moments around an old vintage on the table, looking out at the vineyards and the Barolo Castle, together with her father Ernesto, her mother Anna and her brother Davide. Third place went to the video “Amore Amarone”, a journey through the estates of the Allegrini family. |
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Although they are far from the top positions, and are halting compared to the numbers at the beginning of the year, shipments of Italian wine to China are still in positive territory, and in the first 6 months of the year reached 44.3 million euros, “in line with the general market trend. Italy has had an increase of + 3.3% and is still the best performer among the European countries and competitors that precede it”, commented Amedeo Scarpa, director of ICE in Beijing to WineNews, emphasizing that the Chinese market is not yet a market driven by demand, even though there are signs of change. For instance, the weight of the brand in the 160 top Beijing restaurants and the restaurants monitored by MiBD Markets is growing, and among the most popular companies, alongside Penfold’s and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the Italian wine brands Banfi and Tua Rita stand out. |
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There are many areas in Italy where grape harvesting has not yet begun, while in others, at least for particular varieties, it is in the advanced stages, if not almost completed. In the meantime, Italian wine cellars are continuing to be emptied of stocks, and on August 31st, according to the “Cantina Italia bulletin no. 15”, on data of the electronic register, released recently by the Italian fraud prevention inspectorate, ICQRF, there were 33 million hectoliters of wine (39 in mid-July). |
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