VINITALY.USA HOSTS AN ITALY-UNITED STATES ALLIANCE IN THE NAME OF WINE: 250 COMPANIES AND 1,500 BUYERS RESPOND TO THE ECONOMIC SITUATION AND TRADE TARIFFS
LOLLOBRIGIDA (MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE): AN IRREPLACEABLE MARKET - KEEP INVESTING. SYSTEM ITALY AT THE SIDE OF THIS SECTOR
TAJANI (MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS): CARRY ON WORKING IN THE USA. TARIFF TASK FORCE SET UP. EXPORT ACTION PLAN TO OPEN UP NEW DESTINATIONS OUTSIDE EUROPE
BRICOLO (PRESIDENT, VERONAFIERE): STRONGER OVERSIGHT TO INTERCEPT NEW OPPORTUNITIES. JOINT PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE NEW BUSINESSES
ZOPPAS (PRESIDENT, ITA): COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING ITALIAN WINE BUSINESS IN SUCH TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY. THE USA IS A STRATEGIC MARKET FOR OUR EXPORT PLAN
Chicago, 5 October 2025. "Impressive participation by Italian companies at Vinitaly.USA in Chicago tells us that the US market is irreplaceable and well worth investing in. Equally impressive attendance by American operators and buyers also tells us that Italian wine continues to be a popular product that Americans look for and buy. System Italy stands at the side of the entire sector to promote the incomparable qualities of Italian wine and continue looking into the future with optimism. There is no threat that cannot be tackled if you are confident that you can offer unequalled products." So said the Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, at the inauguration of the second edition of Vinitaly.USA at the Navy Pier in Chicago (5-6 October) with more than 250 exhibitors, including companies, consortia, and regional groups, all involved in B2B meetings with over 1,500 buyers.
The Vice President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, also expressed support for the sector. He declared in a video message: «The Government supports this strategic sector as a priority within the strategy of growth diplomacy, with the goal of reaching the €700 billion export target by the end of the current legislature. The Export Action Plan moves in this direction with the aim of opening up new destinations in high-potential markets outside Europe, without forgetting traditional areas such as Europe itself or the United States, where we seek to continue strengthening our positions." Furthermore, the Minister announced that "having set up a Duties Task Force at the Ministry" at the disposition of companies.
Organized by Veronafiere-Vinitaly with ITA-Italian Trade Agency, Fiere Italiane and the Italian-American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest-Chicago, "Vinitaly.USA is the response by Italian wine to tariffs and the resulting context of concern and uncertainty," said the President of VeronaFiere Federico Bricolo in his opening address. The overall programme for this edition includes not only Vinitaly but also the wine2wine Business Forum, the Vinitaly International Academy, Vinitaly Tourism and SOLExpo, thereby strengthening Veronafiere's presence on this strategic and far from saturated market still capable of offering new growth potential for Italian wine."
In fact, 75% of US consumers Italian wine live in about fifteen states, led by California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Illinois. Today, Italian wine lovers are largely located in these areas and are predominantly consumers of Caucasian origin (75%), Boomers or Gen X (62%), with a significant percentage of women. Analysis published by the UIV-Vinitaly Observatory based on IWSR information (International Wine and Spirits Record, a global leader in data, analysis, and strategic information for the alcoholic beverage sector), consumers of the future will be male, Gen Z but also Millennial, of Latino or African-American background, likely to live in Texas, Illinois, California, South Carolina and Georgia, or other areas with population segments that are not only underexplored but which, state by state, are posting wine appreciation rates higher than the national average. Vinitaly.USA aims to tap into new targets and areas of potential demand as a way of expanding business opportunities for Italian wine, a leading country as regards consumption of imported wine with a 38% share of total. Opportunities for Italian companies and the US trade: The Uiv-Vinitaly Observatory also suggests that while Italian companies post annual turnover of more than 2.2 billion dollars from export sales, for business partners in the US this figure rises to more than 10 billion dollars. Top buyers expected at Vinitaly.USA include Volio Fine Wine Imports, Vias, Terlato Wines, More Than Grapes–wine imports, Winebow fine wines–spirits and Eagle Eye Wines. A focus on tariffs was also inevitable for rhe panel of the wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum: the issue will be discussed, among others, by Benjamin Aneff, President of the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance.
"ITA-Italian Trade Agency - in harmony with the growth diplomacy strategy promoted by the Ministry of Forewign Affairs and the growth objectives also indicated by the Ministry of Agriculture - is proud to be the driving force behind the 2025 edition of Vinitaly.USA in Chicago,".commented the President of ITA-Italian Trade Agency, Matteo Zoppas," developed in collaboration with Veronafiere and the Chicago Chamber of Commerce. This year we are hosting around 250 companies presenting 2000 labels, a figure number that has grown compared to last year. We have focused attentively on the quality of operators, buyers and producers to offer an even higher level of selection, as well as organizing three master classes to introduce American consumers to an even broader taste of Italian wine. In times of uncertainty about tariffs," Zoppas concluded, "we are determined to provide tangible support in the United States to Italian wine entrepreneurs. In coming months, we will evaluate market trends together, while today we are on hand to do our own part by ensuring substance for the role of the country system."
The inauguration of Vinitaly.USA was also attended by Marco Peronaci, the Ambassador of Italy to the USA; Marco Rago, Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Maurizio Muzzetta, President of Fiere Italiane USA LLC; Domenico Mauriello, Secretary General of Assocamerestero, and Robert Allegrini, President of NIAF (The National Italian American Foundation). Other speakers included: Luigi Scordamaglia, CEO of Filiera Italia; Giordano Emo Capodilista, Vice President of Confagricoltura; Tommaso Battista, President of Copagri; Carmelo Troccoli, National Director of the Campagna Amica Foundation; Marzia Varvaglione, President of CEEV (Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins) and Lamberto Frescobaldi, President of the Italian Wine Union (via video link). The following Business Forum organized by ITA-Italian Trade Agency welcomed reports by Marilisa Allegrini, President and CEO of Gruppo Marilisa Allegrini, Francesco Ganz (Ethica Wines), Bill Terlato (Terlato Wine Group), and Diva Moretti Polegato (Villa Sandi), with closing remarks by Matteo Zoppas, President of ITA-Italian Trade Agency, and Minister Francesco Lollobrigida.
Veronafiere was also represented by Vice-President Marina Montedoro, CEO Barbara Ferro, and General Manager Adolfo Rebughini.
Chicago also welcomed Christian Ghedina (former skier with 33 World Cup podiums and honorary AIS sommelier since 2023) as the Vinitaly.USA 2025 Ambassador.
Following Vinitaly.USA, Veronafiere's international trade fair brand specifically for promoting Italian wine will stop-off in Japan (Tokyo, 17-18 November), Serbia with Vinitaly @Wine Vision by Open Balkan (Belgrade, 22-25 November) and then in Albania (Tirana, 26 November). 2025 will close with Vinitaly Preview events in Thailand (Bangkok) and India (December). Veronafiere's 2026 international calendar currently includes Vinitaly Roadshow India (Mumbai and Panaji – Goa, 16 and 18 January 2026), followed by Poland (Warsaw, end of January 2026) and Norway (Oslo, February). Asia returns to the heart of the internationalization strategy in March with Vinitaly China Chengdu (22-25 March), before returning to Verona for the 58th edition of Vinitaly (12-15 April 2026). Vinitaly.USA 2026 has also been confirmed.
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