Piedmont Wineries Report Surging Inventories as Grape Prices Plunge Across Key Varieties

The Piedmont wine region in northern Italy is facing what local leaders describe as a “profound” and “structural” crisis, with conditions compared to the most difficult periods of the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2008 Financial Crisis. This assessment came after a meeting in Turin this week attended by representatives from key regional wine trade bodies, including those for Asti and Moscato d’Asti, Brachetto d’Acqui, Barbera d’Asti, and Monferrato.

Despite a drop in harvest volumes, wineries across Piedmont are reporting rising inventories. According to Rai Uno, production in the region fell by 4% in 2025 compared to both the previous year and the five-year average. Meanwhile, Targato Cuneo, a regional newspaper, reported that bottle sales have declined by 20% over the past five years. One report indicated that one in five wineries are now at full storage capacity, with unsold stocks continuing to grow.

This oversupply has led to a sharp decrease in demand for grapes. Grape prices have fallen significantly across several key varieties. In Barbaresco, prices are down 27% compared to 2024. Nebbiolo d’Alba and Langhe Nebbiolo grape prices have dropped by 22% and 28%, respectively. Prices for Arneis and Dolcetto grapes are down between 14% and 21%. Barbera d’Asti grape prices have seen the steepest decline at 30%.

Claudio Sacchetto, who chaired the meeting of regional representatives, said that grapegrowing is experiencing a crisis on par with major recent economic shocks. He described the current situation as marked by a widespread decline in both trade volume and value.

While falling consumer demand is seen as the main driver of the crisis, other factors are also contributing. These include tariffs imposed by the United States on Italian wine imports, increasingly strong anti-alcohol messaging from health organizations, and adverse weather events affecting vineyards. All these elements were cited during the meeting as reasons for both reduced sales and lower production.

The combination of these pressures has left many producers uncertain about their future. With inventories rising and prices falling, growers and winemakers are calling for urgent action to address what they see as one of the most serious challenges faced by Piedmont’s wine industry in recent decades.