Competing in Global Markets: Internationalization and Growth as Strategic Levers for Italian Wine
Italian wine continues to represent one of the most recognized expressions of Made in Italy around the world. Export results confirm the strength of the sector: in 2025, Italian agri-food exports exceeded €73 billion, with the wine industry continuing to play a central role in the country’s ability to maintain a strong presence in global markets.
Behind these figures, however, the way companies compete is undergoing profound transformation.
Today, product quality remains a fundamental element, but on its own it is no longer sufficient to guarantee growth and international positioning. Wine businesses are operating in an environment characterized by market volatility, geopolitical tensions, currency fluctuations, evolving consumer behavior, and increasing operational complexity.
In this context, internationalization is no longer merely a commercial opportunity, but a structural dimension of competitiveness.
Exporting today means establishing a presence in target markets, managing financial risks, building stable distribution relationships, navigating different regulatory frameworks, and supporting increasingly complex investments. Above all, it means having the capability to sustain business growth with tools that are suited to the complexity of international markets.
It is within this evolving landscape that the role of Intesa Sanpaolo’s Agribusiness Division takes shape. The division was created to provide specialized support to Italian agri-food companies through a model that integrates sector expertise, advisory services, and dedicated financial solutions.
In the internationalization journey of wine companies, support extends far beyond traditional lending. It encompasses a wide range of solutions, from trade finance and foreign exchange risk management to letters of credit, hedging instruments, and tools designed to support investments and business development in foreign markets.
The growing volatility of the global environment has made the ability to manage risks associated with international operations even more critical. In this area, specialized support enables companies to navigate currency and trade market dynamics with greater stability, aligning growth strategies with financial instruments that are consistent with corporate objectives.
Alongside internationalization, a second strategic theme is emerging for the future of the sector: growth in scale.
Today’s market increasingly demands well-structured companies capable of investing in innovation, strengthening their presence in international distribution channels, enhancing brand value, and responding more effectively to industry transformation. For many businesses, this means embarking on consolidation processes, extraordinary finance transactions, generational transitions, or capital strengthening initiatives.
Many companies, particularly smaller ones, still operate with highly entrepreneurial governance models and financial structures primarily reliant on self-financing and traditional bank credit. In an increasingly competitive environment, this model can make it more challenging to undertake investments, pursue international expansion, and engage in consolidation processes.
According to analyses conducted on the sector, approximately 600 Italian agri-food producers, based on their size and market positioning, appear potentially ready to embark on advanced Corporate Finance pathways, including structured finance, IPOs, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), generational transition, and governance management.
In this area as well, the Agribusiness Division operates by leveraging the diverse expertise available across the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, through an integrated advisory model that is unique in the Italian market, with the objective of supporting companies throughout their strategic evolution and development processes.
In a constantly evolving environment, the competitiveness of Italian wine will increasingly depend on companies’ ability to manage complexity, achieve greater scale, and serve international markets with the appropriate tools.
It is within this perspective that the relationship between bank and business is evolving, transforming into a strategic partnership that supports development and growth in global markets.