After the inauguration celebrations, the 55th appointment of the Italian wine sector begins today, which, with a revenue of 31.3 billion euros, over 8 billion in exports, 530,000 enterprises, and 870,000 people, is a major economic asset.
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| Vinitaly 2023 |
Vinitaly is an amazing worldwide marketing platform for the wine supply chain, and its 55th edition, taking place from April 2 to 5, will include over 4,000 exhibitors from 30 countries.
The supply chain is valued 31.3 billion euros, and it includes 570,000 businesses and 870,000 people. The output spans 674 thousand hectares of vines throughout the whole boot, with exports nearly reaching 8 billion euros last year, following a 10-year development period that witnessed an 80% increase in sales overseas.
Even before the doors opened, this year's Vinitaly had set a new high: over a thousand significant foreign purchasers (130 from China alone) chosen by Veronafiere and the Ice Agency following an international road show. Other frontiers are also opening up, particularly in Africa, South America, and along the Balkan routes.
As a result, while the sector's health is outstanding, there is a threat to its future: the anti-alcohol crusades waged by various European governments. In reality, several WHO recommendations and the EU Commission's "Beating Cancer Strategy" vilify alcohol usage without discriminating between the use of spirits and wine over a meal and without distinguishing between moderate consumption and abuse.
Ireland, for example, plans to include words identical to those seen on cigarette packs on the labels of wines, beers, and spirits: "Alcohol causes liver illness," "Alcohol and cancer are closely linked," and so on.
Therefore the 55th edition of Vinitaly's purpose is also to teach about proper drinking, with the notion that drinking one or two glasses is not as detrimental as smoking. Among the debates proposed during the event is one on the "Benefits of Wine: Drinking Moderately Is Healthy," sponsored by the Valpolicella Consortium and the Veneto Region, and featuring Veronese doctor and rector Pierfrancesco Nocini, nutritionist Giorgio Calabrese, and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Wine and health will also be reviewed with Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida and Health Minister Orazio Schillaci.
Indeed, the Italian government is represented in the hall of excellent drinking, which is regarded a part of our culture. Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister, will intervene in the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, as well as to award the young winners of the Istituti Agrari d'Italia Alta wine competition.
And, speaking at the launch of this 55th edition, the Speaker of the House, Lorenzo Fontana, said: "During Vinitaly, I thought on how important wine is to us on a cultural, identity, and tradition level. Many people will be aware that today is Palm Sunday, the holiest week for Christians: wine is also a precious element in our culture, identity, tradition, and pride."
"When I interact with individuals from different areas of the world, I often speak with pride about our wines, he continued. Then there's the "Divine Bacchus" exhibition in the Masaf pavilion this year. The wine, the art. The fact that this is occurring in my hometown of Verona makes me very happy, since it is a city that exhibits its limitless potential in Vinitaly and at the fair."
Francesco Lollobrigida, the minister of agriculture, food sovereignty, and forests, says that wine is also culture. And, due to the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, two masterpieces, Caravaggio's Bacchus and that of Guido Reni, are on loan from the Uffizi in Florence and are on display in the ministry premises.
To stay in the contamination zone, there is also a lot of music: that of the Verona Arena; Joe Bastianich, who is ready to create a musical combination with his wines by singing and inviting all those who want to sing; and Maestro Peppe Vessicchio, who is present at an event on the Asprinio d'Aversa, unarmed with his baton. Fabrizio Paoletti, luthier and manufacturer of the guitars used on stage by Bon Jovi and Keith Richards, has already shown the wine-guitar, constructed with chestnut barrel wood, exhibited at the Hard Rock in Piazza Bra, one of the numerous Fuorisalone events.