There was a slight improvement in sales in Italian large-scale distribution in the summer months, bringing the cumulative figure for the first nine months of this year, with a trend in volume at -3.4% (in the first half of the year the loss was -3.9%) for a turnover, driven by high prices, of 2.1 billion euros, which leaves the change at +3.4%. Still wines, notes the Uiv-Ismea Observatory on a Ismea-Nielsen-IQ basis, mark a -3.9% in volumes (+2.6% values) while the sparkling wine type rises, to +0.6% in quantities and +6.2% in values (to 455 million euros).
According to the Observatory's analysis, there is still a cautious attitude of consumers on the shelves, with "defensive" purchases favouring promotional products or some cheaper types at the expense of others. This is the case of low-cost sparkling wines ("Charmat non Prosecco", with 25 million litres purchased), which have now surpassed even Prosecco Doc in volume sales (24.8 million, which has risen in any case) and which are increasingly establishing themselves not only in discounters but also in the Hyper and Super channels. Or important denominations such as Chianti Classico (volumes at -13.2%), or even Prosecco Docg (-14.5%) that give up shares to geographical indications or common wines that offer more affordable prices.
Overall, prices remain high (+7% on the same period in 2022). Among the types, white wines (-3.9%) and rosé wines (-3.3%) do slightly better than average in terms of quantity, while reds are still in difficulty (-6.4%). Among the GIs (geographical indications), there are still minus signs for the main types; among the top 8, only Vermentino di Sardegna, Puglia PGI and Cannonau in positive dynamics (+10%, +4% and +2% respectively in volume).
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