Wine: UniCredit study, Sicily confirms its top quality

- PALERMO - Sicily is the fourth Italian region for wine production, with about 4.3 million hectoliters (it produces 9% of Italian wine), of which over 81% of quality (Igp 53% + Dop 28% ), further confirmation of the growth path, driven by a strongly quality-oriented approach. The region ranks second in Italy - together with Emilia Romagna and after Veneto - for the production of certified wines: it has 31 of them, including 24 Dop and 7 PGI.

Sicily is the first region for organic vineyard surface (24% of the regional total, 29% of the total Italy) with 31 thousand hectares dedicated (to the organic vine), and this specialization towards organic is not limited to wine since the Sicily is also the first region by agricultural area dedicated to organic (about 385 thousand hectares) and consequently the first by number of Bio operators in the agri-food sector (11 thousand).

A driving role for the growth of the sector is also represented by the exports of Sicilian wine which in 2019 see an increase in the outlet markets, although exports still remain very very concentrated in a few countries: Germany, the UK and the USA represent over 55% of exports. To these results is added the fact that Sicily is also in first place for the number of agricultural enterprises led by under 35. This is the photograph of the world of wine in Sicily contained in the study made by Luigia Mirella Campagna, Industry Expert of UniCredit, and presented on the occasion of the 2020 edition of Sicilia en Primeur.

The UniCredit study also examined the impacts of Covid-19 on the Italian wine sector. The domestic market is expected to contract, following the difficulties of the ho.re.ca. channel. (hotels, restaurants, bars, wine bars, etc.) and the lower spending capacity of families. Exports are also expected to contract due to the economic crisis brought about by the current pandemic. The most consistent drops in sales are expected for medium-high and high range wines, sparkling wines, "innovative" wines.

"The Sicilian wine-growing sector with its activities represents one of the driving sectors for our region and UniCredit, as the main bank in the area, is particularly interested in the sector", underlined Salvatore Malandrino, UniCredit's regional manager for Sicily ". (ANSA).