“Italian Wine Today: Resilience, New Horizons, and Digital Sustainability”.

1. Inventories and domestic consumption under pressure. Italian wineries still held 43.6 million hectoliters of stocks at the end of June: a complex reserve to clear. Domestic consumption continues to slow, primarily due to health concerns and stricter regulations.
2. Exports to the USA: held up in the first half of the year despite a slowdown in June. The first half of 2025 saw Italian exports to the United States grow by 2.5% in value (€1.05 billion) and 7.5% in volume (188.9 million litres), although a slight decline was recorded in June.
3. Positive long-term trends: exports and sparkling wines on the rise. Mediobanca reports a very slight growth of 1.7% in total revenues and 2% in exports for 2025; sparkling wines lead the sector with 4.4% of revenues and 6.1% of exports .
4. Global consumption trends: luxury on the rise Entry-level wines and low-end sparkling wines show a –6% in sales, while wines over $40 show a remarkable 47%.
5. Wine tourism and digital advancement: the future is experiential and smart. Italian wine tourism is booming with programs like “Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia” (Open Cellars for Harvest)—tours, tastings, workshops, and activities for families and young people. Furthermore, digital sustainability applied to viticulture, production, and tourism (chatbots, virtual tastings, smart irrigation) is rapidly expanding.

• #ResilientExport
• #PremiumWine
• #DigitalWineTourism

Strategic conclusion

Italian wine is navigating a challenging period: high inventories and declining domestic consumption require rapid strategic responses. However, exports remain resilient, especially to the US, while the premium segment offers room for growth. The recovery depends on leveraging niche markets, wine tourism experiences, and the intelligent adoption of technology. As a trusted partner , your strength lies in transforming these challenges into high-value, highly effective operations.

“Italian Wine 2025: Challenging Tariffs, New Markets, and Technological Sustainability”.

1. US tariffs at 15%: a concrete risk for Italian exports
   • Starting from August 1, 2025, a 15% tariff will come into force on European wine, with no exemptions for Italy.
   • According to UIV, the estimated impact could reach up to 317 million euros over the next 12 months.
2. Exports to the United States still solid, but diversification strategy urgently needed
   • In the first five months of 2025, exports to the USA grew by 5.7% in value (approximately €838.7 million), despite tariffs.
   • Chianti and Prosecco producers are looking to South America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Canada as alternative strategic outlets.
3. Complex global markets: certain weakness in real consumption
   • The first quarter of 2025 reports a -9% of exports to non-EU countries in volume , and a real drop in consumption in the United States, Germany and the UK.
   • Stocks remain high: approximately 39.8 million hl as of July 30, 0.5% compared to 2024.
4. Emerging trends: new tastes and a focus on sustainable innovation
   • Interest in native varietals, canned wines, chillable reds, orange wines, and “food-first” rosés is growing; social conversations about Italian wine are growing by 0.97% YoY .
5. Sustainability 4.0: AI Enters the Winery and Wine Tourism Industry
   • Recent studies highlight how Artificial Intelligence can optimize vineyard monitoring, irrigation, production, and the wine tourism experience with chatbots, virtual tastings, and personalized systems, supporting efficiency and territorial value.

• #ExportConscious
• #EmergingMarketsStrategy
• #SustainableInnovation

Conclusion

Italian wine faces a crucial moment: tariffs on the US market pose a strategic pressure, but the resilience of exports still allows for recovery. The real challenge is to diversify with coordinated systems towards new markets, respond to stagnant real consumption, and manage inventories. At the same time, value creation today relies on innovative consumer trends and AI-driven sustainable innovation. Your role as a trusted partner , with solidity, vision, and the ability to orchestrate complex operations, becomes crucial to transforming these factors into high-impact strategic choices.

Sources with dates

• US tariffs 15% from August 1, 2025; estimated impact up to €317 million:
• US exports 5.7% value (Jan-May 2025):
• Diversification towards South America, Asia, Africa:
• Extra-EU exports -9% volume first quarter 2025; stocks 39.8 Mhl as of July 30:
• Consumer trends 2025 (chillable reds, orange wines, etc.; social 0.97%):
• AI for sustainability and wine tourism:

Key updates in the world of wine.

• The Wine Institute of California is preparing for a change: after 22 years as CEO, Bobby Koch is stepping down from the helm of the leading association 1 .
• The Pickett Fire in Napa Valley has caused an estimated $65 million in damage to crops, with approximately 1,500 acres (3% of the vineyard area) affected, with high risks of smoke contamination of the ongoing harvest.
• The Rioja DOCA is entering a new phase: ahead of the centennial harvest, it is introducing yield limits and a renewed leadership to ensure evolution and quality.
• In Great Britain , an early harvest is underway after a hot, dry summer: a promising year is expected, with good grape ripening and high quality still wines.
• The Portuguese region of Tejo updates its PGI specifications: low- and no-alcohol versions have been accepted, to anticipate emerging trends in consumption.
• The impact of climate change is increasingly evident: Greg Sherwood’s analysis describes who “wins” and who “loses” in this critical context for global viticulture.

M&A Radar

No significant M&A transactions have emerged in the sector globally to date.

Mini-box “Prices & Harvest”