Sales of Italian wine and sparkling wine in the modern retail distribution channel grew 9.7% in value and 2% in volume in the first nine months of the year, compared to last year, new data has shown.
Wine sales in volume terms are returning to normal after recording abnormal growth in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed on the HoReCa channel.
On the other hand, value sales have been increasing for years, recovering prices that were historically low in the modern retail distribution sector, according to the IRI study, which was presented at the Vinitaly Special Edition in Verona.
Best-Selling Wines
Among the best-selling wines, Lambrusco (-6.7%), Barbera (-10.6%) and Bonarda (-4.9%) have all seen a drop in volume sales, while Vermentino (+25.7%) and Valpolicella (+23.9%) have both performed well.
In terms of the wines with the highest growth rates, Lugana (+46.4%), Sagrantino di Montefalco (+43.7%), Barolo (+42.8%) and Brunello di Montalcino (+41.5%) lead the charge.
DOC wines continued to perform well (+4.8% in volume and +10.8% in value), while PGI wines grew by 3.6% in volume and 8.1% in value.
Volume sales of cartons (-5.6%), bag-in-boxes (-2.4%) and wines packaged in plastic (-14.3%) were all down. Private label wine grew by 3.0% in the 0.75 litre format, but fell by 2.9% overall.
The average price amounts to €3.90/bottle for wine and €5.60/bottle for sparkling wines.
Sales Exceeding Pre-COVID Period
Meanwhile, a Coldiretti study, based on ISTAT data, indicates record sales of Italian wine in value terms, reaching almost €12 billion in 2021 and exceeding even the pre-COVID figures.
This performance was driven by a 10% growth in exports, surpassing €7 billion for the first time, while household purchases in large-scale distribution also grew by 9.7%.
Italy remains the world leader in wine production, ahead of France and Spain, despite a 10% drop to 44.5 million hectolitres, according to European Commission data.
A study earlier this year found that Italian wine sales through online channels more than quadrupled in the first half of the year.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
