Italy
The Largest Producer in the World
- Total vineyard area 2021 (ha): 718,000 (OIV)
- Organic area 2020 (ha): 91,410 (+23,606 in conversion)
- Winegrowing enterprises: 310,428
- Production volume 2021 (mill. hl): 50 (+3%)
- Total turnover 2021 (bill. €): 13
- Wine stock 2021 (mill. hl): 11.5 (-5.2%)
- Export volume 2021 (mill. hl): 22.2 (+7.3%)
- Export value 2021 (bill. €): 7.1 (+12.4%)
- Appellations: 74 DOCG, 334 DOC, 118 IGT
- Domestic wine consumption (mill. hl): 24.2
- Domestic consumption per capita 2021 (liters per year): 40.5 (Ismea); 33.3 (Coldiretti)
At this year's Vinitaly, Unione Italiana Vini presented the latest ISMEA (Agri-Food Market Services Institute) report on the wine sector. In addition to the current figures, the report provides information on the breakdown of production, calculated over the period of the last four harvests. Domestic production accounts for 96% of the national total, imports account for 3% and stock changes for 1%. 45% of the volume is consumed in Italy (25% as bulk wine and 75% bottled). Exports account for 43%, and 12% of production is used industrially (4% for vinegar, 8% for other purposes).
ISMEA also looked at the density of wineries. The region with the most wineries is Puglia with 37,498, followed by Sicily (36,355), Campania (36,262), Veneto (30,636) and Tuscany (21,708). In terms of vineyards, Veneto leads with almost 100,000 ha, closely followed by Sicily (99,000 ha), Puglia (90,000 ha) and Tuscany (60,000 ha).
The order changes, however, when it comes to the amount of wine produced. Veneto with 11.75 mill. hl (23% of total Italian production) and Puglia (10.37 mill. hl) are again in the lead, followed by Emilia Romagna (7.1 mill. hl) and Sicily (4.5 mill. hl).
In an international comparison, Italy remains the wine country with the highest volume. In terms of export value, it ranks second after France, as does Spain in terms of export volume. Among the three main producing countries, Italy has been able to increase its export value the most within the last ten years, by 51%.
Important countries for Italian exports are Germany (5.5 mill. hl, -1%), United States (4 mill. hl, +16%) and the United Kingdom (2.7 mill. hl) in terms of volume. These three countries, although in a different order, also lead the export values: United States (€1.720 bill., +18.3%), Germany (€1.134 bill., +5.3%) and United Kingdom (€743 mill., +4%).
Veronika Crecelius
Sources: Ismea, Coldiretti, Agea, Istat, OIV
Greece
Small But Mighty
- Vineyard area (ha): 61,500
- Winegrowing enterprises: 1,300
- Production volume 2021 (mill. hl): 2.4 (+6%)
- Export volume 2020/21 (mill. hl): 0.22
- Export value 2020 (mill. €): 76.8
- Domestic wine consumption (mill. hl): 2.2
- Domestic consumption per capita 2021 (liters per year): 24.5
Around 30% of Greek exports go to Germany. This makes it the most important market for Greek wines outside their homeland - ahead of the USA, France and tiny Cyprus. More than 100 wineries will present their wines to the international audience at ProWein.
The producers are particularly proud of the country's approximately 300 autochthonous grape varieties and their diverse terroir. The two varieties Savatiano and Roditis account for around 30% of the vineyard area. Savatiano is particularly important for the production of the classic Retsina, which is experiencing a gradual resurgence. However, it is Assyrtiko and Xinomavro that are considered to be the flagships of modern Greek wine, and they are now both making a splash in wine circles.
Simon Werner
