Holidays Time, Wine Time

 We have just left December and, with it, also the year 2019, however we are still in the holiday period and which will accompany us for a while in these first days of the year 2020. It is, in any case, a period during which, as usual, bottles of wine are joyfully uncorked, both to cheer the frequent banquets that are organized on holidays, and to celebrate the arrival of the new year. As is well known, the wine that becomes the absolute protagonist of toasts and celebrations is notoriously the sparkling wine – of any type and origin – which occupies a place of honor in the glasses of every table. The cause of this is, in fact, the role the majority of us recognizes to this particular style of wine: there is no party or celebration in which we do not uncork at least one bottle of sparkling wine. From Charmat method – or Martinotti – to classic and champenoise methods, during the holidays, particularly in those of this period, the sales of sparkling wines always records a significant and important increase.

 In this period – in fact – millions of corks of sparkling wine bottles have “flown to the sky”, a collective rite which sees its most intense and significant moment on the night of December 31st and which welcomes the new year. A success in consumption which seems to be continuously increasing and for which – not only in Italy – a wide selection of choices, styles and prices is available. To predict this increase, the Ovse-Ceves (Osservatorio Vini Spumanti Effervescenti, Observatory for Effervescent and Sparkling Wines) which estimates an increase of +3.3% in the consumption of sparkling wines, in particular the brut style. Interesting, regarding the preference in terms of “style”, the constant increase in consumption of the driest sparkling wines – such as brut, extra brut and pas dosé – a sign, not least, of a cultural change in Italy in the preference of bubbles. Furthermore, the increase of +3.3% is a decidedly interesting and positive fact, also confirming the good state of health of the production of sparkling wines.

 According to these figures, in addition to the +3.3% increase in sparkling wine consumption compared to the same holiday period of the last year, there are also other interesting data emerging from this research. To celebrate the arrival of the new year, it is estimated – in fact – that at midnight of the New Year 2020, 44 to 48 millions bottles of sparkling wine will be uncorked. During the entire holiday period, therefore from Christmas to Epiphany, is expected a daily consumption of more than 2.5 million bottles of sparkling wine. These forecasts are the result of the data collected by the economic operators of the sparkling wine market and concerning the last 28 years. The study also highlights how the preference of the style of sparkling wines changes according to the holiday or occasion of celebration. On Christmas day, dry and sweet sparkling wines are the most uncorked ones, while for Epiphany, rosé bubbles tend to be preferred, while for the end of the year toast, instead, dry and brut styles are mainly poured into the glasses.

 The estimate of sparkling wine consumption in relation to this holiday period and predicted by the Ovse-Ceves and revealed by its president Giampietro Comolli, also highlights further interesting data. Good news, in fact, both in quantitative terms and in volume of profits. It is estimated 77 million bottles of Italian sparkling wine and corresponding to 280 million euros will be uncorked during this holiday period. A decidedly important quantity if we compare this figure with the entire expenditure the Italians destined to celebrate these holidays and which is estimated for a total of 630 million euros. However, not only Italian sparkling wines will be uncorked, as many of our compatriots will prefer to uncork about 3.9 million bottles produced abroad, in particular in restaurants and holiday resorts. The expenditure about the consumption of foreign sparkling wines is predicted to be 240 million euros, most of which is destined for Champagne.

 Moreover, the president of Ovse-Ceves, Giampietro Comolli, points out the expenditure for sparkling wines in the 2019-2020 holiday period will be over 870 million euros, marking an increase of +3.3% compared to the corresponding previous period and with an increase of 2.4 million bottles. Definitely encouraging data, considering the consumption trend of the past years and which, for the second year in a row, marks a significant increase, a sign of a promising recovery of the entire wine industry. The signs of the good performance of the wine market had already been anticipated in October, at the beginning of autumn. In that period, in fact, a significant increase in sales – and therefore in consumption – was detected in two wines in particular: reds and Prosecco. The same, however, has not been recorded for sweet sparkling wines which, apparently, have been suffering for some time from a negative trend in consumption and therefore in the market.

 In October 2019 the Italian wine market in fact recorded an increase of 5.74% in terms of value equal to 1.43% in volume. The wines that have recorded the best results – as already mentioned – are reds and Prosecco, the latter also thanks to the fears in the United Kingdom about the effects of brexit. With the implementation of this measure, in fact, it is feared the introduction of duties, a prospect that has pushed British wine distributors to stock up on Prosecco, particularly appreciated across the Channel. The merit of this result is also due to internal consumption, in particular to that of catering and bars, both recording increases of more than 3.50% in terms of value. 2019, therefore, can be considered as a favorable year for Italian wine and which has produced positive results both in terms of volumes and economic value. A result giving good premises in this 2020 which has just begun. Given these results, which have certainly not been positive in recent years, it is evidently good news and giving high hopes for a healthy future for Italian wine, at least in the nearest one.