The presence of Vinitaly in Eastern Europe is renewed with the Italian Area of “Wine Vision By Open Balkan”, from tomorrow to Sunday 24 November in Belgrade. A third edition, organised by Veronafiere in collaboration with Agenzia Ice, which aims to establish the presence of Italian wine not only in the Balkans (Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania), but in a large part of Eastern Europe. There are 57 Italian companies present in the Italian collective representing eight regions (Abruzzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Puglia, Tuscany and Veneto), for a matching of b2b meetings with buyers from 11 countries (Albania, Austria, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary).
The Vinitaly-branded Italy collective at Wine Vision in Belgrade: Eastern Europe a growing market for Italian wine sales
Overall, the commercial enclosure dedicated to Italian B2B at Wine Vision represents a demand that is growing much more than global exports of Italian wine; in fact, the increase in value (about 250 million euros) of Italian sales recorded last year in the 11 target countries was 8.6%, compared to a world export average of -1.6%. A leap replicated in the first eight months of this year, with a trend in value of +13%.
“The mission to Belgrade”, emphasizes the general director of Veronafiere, Adolfo Rebughini, “is also part of the Vinitaly activities planned to select and invite local operators and buyers to the Verona edition next year, from 6 to 9 April. A reciprocity of interests with the partners of Open Balcan that at the last Vinitaly was manifested with 1,567 operators from the Balkan area and a significant participation – which will be renewed in 2025 – in the Verona Fair of producers from Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia in a single exhibition space, with the best labels from the three countries brought together in the dedicated area”.
Finally, there will be six masterclasses in Belgrade entrusted to Aspi president Giuseppe Vaccarini. The protagonists will be the main labels representing the key wine areas of the Belpaese: from Franciacorta to Langhe, from the vineyards of Friuli, Abruzzo and Sardinia, from Prosecco, to Soave to Valpolicella.
