Coldiretti Says Bureaucracy and Tariffs Cost Italian Wine 1.6 Billion Euros

At the opening of Vinitaly in Verona, Italy’s main wine trade fair, Coldiretti said that bureaucracy, tariffs and what it called alarmist labels are costing the country’s wine sector 1.6 billion euros a year, money the farm lobby says could instead be used to improve quality, innovation, wine tourism and export promotion.

The group made the claim on April 12 as it unveiled a symbolic display at Casa Coldiretti: a large wine bottle wrapped in broken chains, meant to represent what it described as the current condition of Italian winemaking. Coldiretti said the image was intended to show how regulation and trade barriers are weighing on producers at a time when the industry is already under pressure from global uncertainty.

Vincenzo Gesmundo, Coldiretti’s secretary general, said freeing wine from “the chains of bureaucracy, tariffs and distortions” was not a slogan but an economic necessity. He said the 1.6 billion euros could return directly to wine companies and help them keep investing in their businesses. He also argued that the sector needs stronger representation because it remains central to Italy’s food and beverage economy.

Coldiretti said Italian wine has a total value of 14 billion euros and remains one of the country’s leading agricultural exports. The group said exports came close to 8 billion euros in 2025 despite difficult international conditions. It pointed specifically to tariff uncertainty tied to President Trump’s trade policies as a factor that has complicated sales in the United States, which it described as the sector’s most important foreign market.

Ettore Prandini, Coldiretti’s president, said the U.S. market cannot be lost and said the organization will travel to New York in June to promote Italian wine there. He said the sector is facing strong pressure but also signs of recovery and significant room for growth if producers focus on innovation, quality and higher average value.

Prandini said the average value of Italian wine has risen 39% over the past decade, reflecting a shift toward stronger branding and more distinctive products. He said a special promotion plan and continued work by producers could help Italian wine regain ground abroad and remain competitive in global markets.