The Italian flag will be raised at
the Navy Pier in Chicago 20-21 October for the debut of Vinitaly
USA.
This is the first Italian wine trade fair format in the United
States organized by Veronafiere and Fiere Italiane with the
support of ITA, the Italian Trade Agency.
The event launches the permanent presence of
Vinitaly-Veronafiere on the world's leading outlet market for
wine products. It targets US buyers and operators in catering
and distribution sectors with more than 230 Italian companies,
five regional group shows (Calabria, Campania,
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Lazio and Sardinia, plus institutional
attendance by the Veneto and Umbria Regions) in a show area of
13,000 square meters hosting well over 1650 labels for tasting.
Thirty b2b events are also scheduled.
"This is a fundamental debut for promoting and positioning Made
in Italy wine. This relevance is also emphasized by the presence
at the inauguration of the Minister of Agriculture & Food
Sovereignty, Francesco Lollobrigida, and, on the US side, of the
Governor of Illinois, Jay Robert Pritzker," said the President
of Veronafiere S.p.A., Federico Bricolo. "Vinitaly.USA is the
outcome of convergence in terms of vision and strategy by all
pertinent institutions. Our development plan for Vinitaly.USA
aims to make it the landmark exhibition for the growth of
companies on the world's top destination market, which closed
the second quarter of this year on a positive note."
The UIV-Vinitaly Observatory indicates that approximately 3 out
of 10 imported bottles come from Italy, generating a market
share in terms of value that in August grew to almost 34%, with
a peak of 43% with reference to the Midwest (which embraces 12
states). This is based on the performance in the first 8 months
of the year, with orders from Italy growing by 4% to 1.5 billion
dollars in terms of value - compared to an overall average for
US imports down by 3%, with France posting a setback of -8% (1.6
billion dollars). Yet this undoubtedly encouraging result for
Italian wine as regards shipments - according to the Observatory
- does not suffice to overcome all the complexities of the
current period. The situation remains complicated in terms of
sales and effective consumption, albeit supported in part by
sparkling wines and equally driven by the continuing success of
the trend for cocktails.
And the market is one of the main focal points of Vinitaly USA
which on the first day will host the ITA, Italian Trade Agency
wine business forum "Between tradition and innovation: the
future of Italian wine on the US market". The President of the
ITA Agency, Matteo Zoppas, said: "Italian wine is confirming its
status on an international scale, thanks to an identity that
equally promotes quality and prestige. Vinitaly USA is a
strategic platform for consolidating the role of Italian
products on the American market and strengthening Italy's
reputation as a leader in the wine sector. Thanks to
constructive collaboration between the public and private
sectors, we are preparing to push the success of Italian wine
even higher and reach increasingly ambitious goals."
The official opening of Vinitaly.USA will also be attended by
Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere; Maurizio Muzzetta,
President of Fiere Italiane; Damiano Tommasi, Mayor of Verona;
Francesco Rocca, President of the Lazio Region; Matteo Zoppas,
President of ITA; Mario Pozza, Asscomerestero; Fulvio
Calcinardi, Secretary General of the Italian-American Chamber of
Commerce of the Midwest - Chicago; Robert Allegrini, President
of NIAF (National Italian American Foundation); Riccardo
Guariglia, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; J.B.
Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, and Francesco Lollobrigida,
Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry. Sector
organizations Unione Italiana Vini and Federvini will also be
present with their respective Presidents Lamberto Frescobaldi
and Micaela Pallini, joined by agricultural representatives
Ettore Prandini, President of Coldiretti, Luigi Scordamaglia,
President of Filiera Italia, and Annamaria Barrile, CEO of
Confagricoltura. The event will also be attended by Maurizio
Danese, Managing Director of Veronafiere, with Vice-Presidents
Matteo Gelmetti and Romano Artoni and CEO Adolfo Rebughini.
www.vinitalyusa.com
Media & Institutional Relations
Director Carlo Alberto Delaini T. 045.8298242-427 | M +39
3357367388
Veronafiere Press Service
Francesco Marchi T. 045 8298350 | M. +39 33426560174
E-mail: pressoffice@veronafiere.it
Web: veronafiere.it
Ispropress
Benny Lonardi (393.455.5590 direzione@ispropress.it)
Simone Velasco (327.9131676 simovela@ispropress.it)
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