Strengthening Italian Wine’s Global Footprint
VERONA – Vinitaly 2024, the 56th edition of the renowned wine exhibition, concluded successfully in Verona with 97,000 attendees. International participants accounted for 31% of the total, with over 30,000 foreign operators from 140 countries, including 1,200 top buyers, a 20% increase from last year, thanks to a collaborative effort between Veronafiere and Ice Agenzia.
The event’s positive outcome was reinforced by the success of Vinitaly Plus, a matchmaking platform that facilitated 20,000 business meetings, doubling its numbers from the previous year. Additionally, the off-site event, Vinitaly and the City, attracted over 50,000 tastings, an 11% increase.
Vinitaly’s President, Federico Bricolo, emphasized the exhibition’s growing role in promoting Italian wine internationally: “Vinitaly consolidates its business positioning and increasingly central role in the global promotion of Italian wine. The event’s success and positive feedback from companies reaffirm Veronafiere’s current governance objectives, aimed at strengthening the brand of Made in Italy wine worldwide.”
Veronafiere’s CEO, Maurizio Danese, underscored the strategic focus on operator profiling, contributing to both international and domestic demand, particularly in the Horeca channel. He stated, “Positive reactions from companies, consortia, and regional collectives are an injection of confidence at a complex time, reinforcing our support for Italy’s leading ambassadorial product.”
Internationally, the USA led the way with 3,700 operators (+8% from 2023), followed by Germany, the UK, China, and Canada (+6%). Japanese buyers also saw a 15% increase.
Vinitaly 2024’s successful conclusion paves the way for international events, including Wine to Asia in Shenzhen (May 9-11, 2024), Vinitaly China Roadshow in Shanghai, Xian, and Guangzhou (September 2-6, 2024), Wine South America in Bento Gonçalves, Brazil (September 3-5, 2024), Vinitaly USA in Chicago (October 20-21, 2024), and Vinitaly @ Wine Vision in Belgrade (November 22-24, 2024).
The 57th edition of Vinitaly is scheduled for April 6-9, 2025, at Veronafiere, Verona, continuing its journey of showcasing Italian wine to the world.
