ALL THE NUMBERS FOR ITALIAN WINE IN THE U.S. A HUGE SUCCESS THAT IS DESTINED TO INCREASE IN THE YEARS TO COME … “MADE IN ITALY” WINES CONQUER THE STATES

It is a success without precedence, one that has calmed the anxieties of winemakers, as well as the entire Italian wine sector. The numbers from the “Italian Wine & Food Institute” (an important promotional tool in the U.S.), directed by Lucio Caputo and the famous producer Jacopo Biondi Santi, have had the positive effect of spreading a certain optimism throughout the sector, which amidst thousands of difficulties and many hard years, seems to have finally found the right path for success outside of its national boundaries.

But let’s get straight to the numbers: in 2005 wine exports to the United States registered an increase in quantity of 9.4%, and 11.5% in value compared to 2004, reaching 2 million hectoliters of wine for a value of 1 billion dollars. These increases were reached notwithstanding a slight downturn in exports to the U.S. in the last two months of 2005. More contained, instead, after several years of expansion, is the growth of Australian wines, which takes second place with 10.2% in quantity and 3% in value. The positive trend for wine imports also interested French producers, who registered a more moderate increase of 2.7% in quantity and 2.8% in value. Chilean wines increased by 5.2% in quantity and 8.3% in value.

The main percentage increases, on a more reduced rate, were registered by New Zealand wines (+ 71,1% in quantity and +54,2% in value), Germany (28,2% in quantity and 21,4% in value), Argentina (+25,2% in quantity and + 37,5% in value), and Spain (+18,3% in quantity and + 15,9% in value). Overall, wine imports to the U.S. in 2005, registered an increase of 11.1% in quantity and 9.6% in value.

More specifically, Italian wine imports to the U.S. totaled 1,985,180 hectoliters for a total value of 955.89 million dollars, versus 1,813,790 hectoliters and 857.64 million dollars in 2004. Australia registered 1,931,550 hectoliters for a value of 693.42 million dollars, versus 1,752,750 hectoliters and 672.99 million dollars. France sent 775,860 hectoliters for a value of 610.43 million dollars, versus 755,420 hectoliters and 593.79 million dollars in 2004. And Chile’s numbers were 550,000 hectoliters for a value of 155.88 million dollars versus 523,010 hectoliters for 143.96 million dollars. In total, these four countries hold 81.8% of the total U.S. import market quantity wise, and 82.6% in value.

Overall, wine imports to the U.S. in 2005 amounted to 6,409,990 hectoliters for a value of 2.92 billion dollars versus 5,768,000 hectoliters and 2.66 billion dollars in 2004. The average price per liter of wine imported to the U.S. in 2005 was $4.82 for Italian wines (versus $4.73 in 2004, for an increase of 9 cents per liter); $3.59 for Australian wines (versus $3.84 in 2004, for a decrease of 25 cents); $7.87 for French wines (versus $7,86 in 2004, for an increase of 1 cent) and $2.83 for Chilean wines (versus $2.75 in 2004, for an increase of 8 cents).

Imports from other supplier countries, with much more limited quantities than the top four countries, amounted to 264,460 hectoliters and 142.5 million dollars for Spain (versus 223,630 hectoliters and 122.93 million dollars in 2004); 269,290 hectoliters worth 62.73 million dollars for Argentina (versus 215,130 hectoliters for 45.6 million dollars); 236,540 hectoliters for 95.74 million dollars for Germany (versus 184,480 hectoliters worth 78.84 million dollars); and 142,190 hectoliters and 91.86 million dollars for New Zealand (versus 83,110 hectoliters for 59.58 million dollars). Total U.S. imports for wines from countries not included among the top eight importers were 254,920 hectoliters worth 112.6 million dollars in 2005 versus 216,680 hectoliters for 89.56 million dollars in 2004.