Italian Wine Exports Fall 3.7% in 2025 After Record Year

Italian wine exports closed 2025 with a decline, marking a challenging year for the sector after the record results of 2024. According to Istat data released today, the value of Italian wine exports in 2025 reached €7.7 billion, down 3.7% from 2024. Exported volumes also fell to 2.1 billion liters, a decrease of 1.8%. The downturn affected both still and sparkling wines, though sparkling wines performed slightly better in volume, reaching 553.2 million liters (+0.68%) but still dropping in value to €2.3 billion (-2.5%).

Several factors contributed to this negative result. The United States, the leading market for Italian wine, saw a sharp drop due to new tariffs, a weaker dollar, declining consumption, and competition from new beverages. In 2025, U.S. imports of Italian wine totaled €1.75 billion (-9.1%) and 339.5 million liters (-6.2%). In Europe, Germany remained the top market for Italian wine with stable values at €1.14 billion (+0.5%), but volumes fell to 474 million liters (-3.2%). The United Kingdom also reported negative results, closing the year at €816.8 million (-3.8%) and 254.7 million liters (-2.3%).

Canada ranked fourth among export destinations, importing €420.7 million worth of Italian wine in 2025 (-5.8%), although volumes increased to nearly 75 million liters (+1.9%). Switzerland dropped below €400 million for the first time in years, importing €393.2 million (-4.2%) and 64.4 million liters (-5.1%). France stood out as a positive exception among major markets, increasing its imports to €309.7 million (+3.4%) and nearly reaching 96 million liters (+6.8%).

The Netherlands also showed growth with €259.6 million (+5.5%), while Belgium declined to €217.2 million (-6.2%). Russia ended the year at €207.4 million, down by a significant 16%, despite an uptick in purchases during the second half of the year.

Sweden was another bright spot with imports rising to €187.5 million (+5.2%). However, Asian markets continued to struggle: Japan fell to €176.4 million (-4.1%), China plummeted to €66.9 million (-25.1%), South Korea slipped to €49.3 million (-2.3%), and Hong Kong edged down slightly to €22.1 million (-0.6%).

In South America, Brazil continued its steady growth as an emerging market for Italian wine, reaching €42.8 million in value (+3.7%). India remains a small but growing market at €2.7 million (+5.6%), following recent trade agreements with Europe.

Australia imported €71 million worth of Italian wine in 2025, down by 1.7% compared to the previous year.

Overall, Italian wine exports lost about €300 million in value compared to 2024, with shipments decreasing by 22.6 million liters worldwide.

Regionally, Veneto maintained its position as Italy’s top exporting region with €2.92 billion in exports in 2025 (-1.2%), accounting for 36.7% of national exports by value thanks to wines like Prosecco and Valpolicella reds.

Tuscany followed with €1.17 billion (-2%), representing 14.8% of total exports and driven by Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino among others.

Piedmont came close behind at €1.15 billion (-2.2%), making up 14.6% of national exports with Barolo and Barbaresco as flagship wines.

Together, these three regions accounted for 66.1% of all Italian wine exported globally.

Trentino-Alto Adige ranked fourth at €553.9 million (-7.7%), ahead of Emilia-Romagna at €423.8 million (-7.3%). Lombardy was one of the few regions showing growth at €331.4 million (+7.1%).

Abruzzo experienced a significant drop to €228.9 million (-13.3%), overtaken by Puglia at €242.1 million (+5.9%) and Friuli Venezia Giulia at €238.1 million (+8.3%).

Sicily rounded out the top ten with positive growth at €153.2 million (+1.6%).

The sector faces ongoing challenges as it enters the first third of 2026: geopolitical tensions persist, energy costs are expected to rise further, and unsold stocks continue to accumulate in cellars across Italy.

Despite these difficulties, industry leaders remain cautiously optimistic that stability or even modest growth could return in the coming year as Italian wine continues its long tradition as a cultural product closely tied to its regions and conviviality around the world.