Sicily is the second largest “vineyard” in Italy by extension, with 95,760 hectares cultivated, and is the first region in terms of organic vineyard surface area. This is one of the data emerging from the Observatory on the competitiveness of the Wine Regions – Sicily, created by Nomisma Wine Monitor in collaboration with UniCredit, presented today in Palermo.
2023 was a complex year for the wine sector, with a decline in imports at a global level linked to both cyclical and structural reasons. Added to an overstock of purchases by importers, generated by fears of breakages in supply chains and price increases, were the effects of the economic slowdown and the decline in consumer spending capacity, put under pressure by inflationary phenomena. Alongside these impacts of a cyclical nature, the effects of the structural changes that have long affected wine consumption have become more evident: reduction in purchases of red wine, less propensity to consume by the younger generations, greater attention to alcohol content and orientation of preferences towards lighter and lower alcohol wines.
White wines and organic crops are driving Sicily, which is resisting the contraction of the grape harvests of the last harvest due to extreme climatic events and the attack of downy mildew. On the export front in Sicily in 2023, exports of PDO red wines are decreasing (-4%) while exports of DOP still white wines are growing (+ 7%). The export of Sicilian PDO white wines is growing in the United States (+29%), followed by Canada (+13.9%) and Germany (+6.8%). For Sicilian DOP red wines, the greatest export growth occurred with France (+7.5%), followed by the United Kingdom (+6.8%).
However, it should be noted that the Istat export data take into account the place of shipment abroad, so the quantities of Sicilian wine that do not leave directly from Sicily for abroad, but leave from ports located in other regions to which these Product volumes are counted as wine exports. Therefore it is estimated that in reality the foreign trade of Sicilian wines and musts is higher than the official Istat data.
The positive data also comes from large-scale organized distribution where sales of regional PDO wines grew by 5.3% in value (against a national average of +3.4%) and by +0.3% in volume (against a decline of -1.9%).
The 2024 edition of the Observatory was enriched by the results of a survey involving 1,000 Italian wine consumers, representative of the Italian population by gender, age and territorial residence. The objectives of the survey were, among others, to evaluate the notoriety of the main denomination wines among consumers, identify the regions most appreciated in the production of wines by type and show consumption behavior at a territorial level (frequency, channels purchase, etc.). perception of the Sicily brand. Sicilian labels placed fifth behind wines from Piedmont, Tuscany, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Among red wines, the Island drops to sixth place but rises to third for white wines. Grillo is leading this “white” growth.
“The UniCredit-Nomisma study highlights a constantly evolving global and domestic wine market, both for reasons within the sector and for broader dynamics relating to the economic and geopolitical sphere. Precisely for this reason UniCredit is committed to renewing the range of support tools for the sector, to complement traditional credit support. I am thinking, for example, of the 1 billion euro ceiling as part of the ‘UniCredit per l’Italia’ initiative to support the investments of agricultural and agri-food companies, of the minibond bond issues and of the renewed structure of our network with the presence of managers and agribusiness specialists, who are able to support the realities of the sector in an even more targeted way” underlined Salvatore Malandrino, Regional Manager Sicily of UniCredit.
On the occasion of today’s meeting, the 2024 edition of Sicilia en Primeur was presented, the annual preview of Sicilian wines organized by Assovini Sicilia, scheduled in Cefalù from 9 to 11 May. Cultivating the future, the theme of Sicilia en Primeur 2024, retraces the most significant stages of Assovini Sicilia – from its birth to today – projecting itself towards the future.
“Sicilia en Primeur 2024 will be a special edition with a double birthday: twenty-five years since the foundation of Assovini Sicilia and twenty years since the first edition of Sicilia en Primeur. The association, which today brings together one hundred wine companies, is the protagonist of the history of Sicilian viticulture and its revolution, thanks to the extraordinary vision of its founders and the commitment of the successors and companies that in these years they have worked to promote Sicilian wine as a cultural ambassador in the world, enhancing the diversity of the Sicilian wine continent” commented Mariangela Cambria, President of Assovini Sicilia.
There will be over one hundred journalists, both Italian and foreign, who will participate in the event; to these are added fifty-nine associated companies and the presence of Pietro Russo, new Master of Wine, together with industry professionals who will lead the scheduled technical seminars.
The event, conceived and organized by Assovini Sicilia since 2004, confirms itself as the most important event for Sicilian wine.