A historic milestone: Italian sparkling wine reaches one billion bottles

In 2024, the Italian sparkling wine industry is reaching a historic milestone by surpassing one billion bottles produced and sold. According to the Wine Observatory of the Italian Wine Union (Uiv) and the Institute of Services for the Agricultural Food Market (Ismea), approximately 355 million of these bottles are expected to be opened during Christmas and New Year celebrations, representing a 7% increase compared to the previous year. This achievement underscores the resilience of a product that has proven strong against economic crises, international conflicts, and the structural challenges faced by the wine sector.

The analysis reveals that the majority of this festive consumption will occur abroad, with 251 million bottles destined for international markets, marking a 9% growth compared to 2023. In Italy, domestic consumption will reach 104 million bottles, showing a more moderate 2% increase. Meanwhile, the champagne market is anticipated to experience a significant 8% decline, closing the year with 5.1 million bottles sold.

The projected total for 2024, reaching 1.015 billion bottles, reflects an 8% increase over 2023 and highlights the growing appeal of sparkling wines compared to still wines and other alcoholic beverages like beer and spirits. A notable exception is the cocktail segment, which has become a key driver of growth for Italian sparkling wines. The rise in popularity of the "Spritz" cocktail has been especially influential in major markets such as the United States. According to Observatory estimates, approximately 2.8 billion sparkling wine-based cocktails, primarily using Prosecco and other Charmat-method varieties, will be made in 2024. This translates to about 340 million bottles devoted solely to cocktails, significantly boosting exports.

Prosecco continues to dominate the international market, excelling in both its controlled designation of origin (DOC) and Asolo variations. Additionally, other Charmat-method sparkling wines have achieved double-digit growth, reinforcing the position of Italian sparkling wines in key markets.

The market remains dominated by sparkling wines with controlled designation of origin (DOC) and controlled and guaranteed designation of origin (DOCG), which account for nearly 80% of production. This trend reflects a shift in the production and marketing of sparkling wines in Italy. While two decades ago production was largely confined to regions north of the Po River, today sparkling wines are produced across the entire country, encompassing a total of 70 DOC and 17 DOCG appellations.

The sector's ability to innovate and adapt to international market demands, combined with a deeply rooted winemaking tradition, positions Italian sparkling wines as a global benchmark with a promising future that continues to exceed expectations.