International tensions, and in particular the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine, also have an impact on the Italian economy. Italian wine is worth more than 8 billion in exports and consumers on the domestic market choose it because it expresses quality.
Taking away wine from the Belpaese would be equivalent, in terms of GDP, to almost erasing the value of all Italian sport, including football. "We will be able to overcome these difficulties because Italian wine - concludes the expert leading the winemakers - is unique in the world. There is no France, Germany, Austria that can compete with our wealth of varieties, transversal and biodynamic, so we will come out well from this Vinitaly", says the Italian Wine Union (Uiv) Lamberto Frescobaldi. The 56th edition of the international wine and spirits exhibition, underway at Veronafiere until 17 April, is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors. The first day of VinitalY is the first national day of Made in Italy.