Italy’s sparkling wine exports registered a 29% increase in sales last year, with UK sales rising nearly 100%.

According to Italy’s sparkling wine trade body, the Forum Spumanti & Bollicine, sales rose to 1.6m in value and were up by 11% in volume on 2007.

‘Spumante is clearly overriding Champagne and seducing foreign markets because it beats other sparkling wines on the merit of its quality-price ratio,’ he said.

Europe is the largest importer of Italian sparkling wines, taking almost three quarters of total exports.

The UK is Italy’s top market for Spumante with sales doubling and rising by 98% in value. In new markets such as Spain and Russia, exports have risen by 88% and 40% resectively.

Italy is the third-largest producer of Sparkling wines in the world, with a total production of 310m bottles. Asti Spumante is the leading sparkling wine export, followed by Prosecco, Franciacorta and Trento.

Written by Michele Shah

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Michele Shah
Michele Shah
Decanter Magazine & Wine Writer

Michèle Shah is a wine critic, marketing consultant and travel writer who has been based in Italy for over 30 years. As a consultant, she specialises in promoting Italian food and wine in export markets. She organises and hosts her own Italian wine tours, combining winery visits and fine dining. She has written for many wine publications including Decanter, Wine Spectator, Wine Business International, Harpers and Corriere Vinicolo.