Verona 12 April 2026. “Vinitaly today is an infrastructure supporting and expanding the international impact of Italian wine in an organized manner that, starting in Verona, works ceaselessly to strengthen role of our companies on global markets. Faced by one of the most complex geopolitical and economic scenarios, characterized by instability, the redefinition of trade routes and growing international competition, Veronafiere is fully aware of its responsibility to evolve its role even further: not merely a meeting place, but an effective lever for consolidating the positioning of the sector and expanding its development opportunities abroad.” The President of Veronafiere, Federico Bricolo, opened the 58th Vinitaly today with these words in the presence of Lorenzo Fontana, President of the Chamber of Deputies; Antonio Tajani, Vice President of the Council of Ministers; Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty; Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy; Alessandro Giuli, Minister of Culture; Gianmarco Mazzi, Minister of Tourism; Antonella Sberna, vice-president of the European Parliament; Matteo Zoppas, President ITA- Italian Trade Agency; Alberto Stefani, president of the Veneto Region; Flavio Massimo Pasini, president of the Province of Verona, and Damiano Tommasi, mayor of Verona.
“International promotion is our priority," Bricolo went on. "This vision includes a structured programme of nearly thirty international initiatives systematically covering the main strategic areas: from the United States to Asia with China, India, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Japan and South Korea, from Latin America to the Balkans through to European markets and the United Kingdom. This geography coincides with the most promising routes for our exports which we will further expand. We are already working with ITA – Italian Trade Agency for new Vinitaly stop-offs in Africa, Canada, and Australia. in addition, we will double up in Brazil, thereby strengthening our market the presence already active with Wine South America,”
Analysis by the Uiv-Vinitaly Observatory, for the 58th edition of the event scheduled until 15 April indicates twelve countries with the highest growth potential: Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Brazil, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and India, in addition to the two main non-EU outlet markets, the United States and the United Kingdom. The Italian Wine Union and Vinitaly believe these are the areas where Italy should strengthen its presence to expand the commercial base of a sector still excessively focused on the top five destination markets, which alone take 60% of the total value of exports. The challenge is twofold: On the one hand, to consolidate quality production and respond to critical issues and, on the other, improve positioning - a strategic objective for exports by such a winemaking power as Italy. Prometeia also ranks wine second among traditional Made in Italy sectors in terms of international balance of trade, worth 7.2 billion euros in 2025.
“This analysis of markets," Bricolo concluded, "saw Veronafiere develop and intensify an ongoing action plan to break into new destinations and help strengthen the competitiveness of Italian wine. In this historical moment, growth comes from an ability to create a system and monitor markets with vision and continuity: Vinitaly achieves this function in full by supporting companies as an active tool for development and global positioning.”
“The geographies of wine, ancient ways and new routes” report included in the inaugural ceremony also welcomed speakers Giacomo Ponti, president Federvini, and Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of the Italian Wine Union.