ITALIAN BUBBLY OVERTAKES CHAMPAGNE IN USA

ITALIAN BUBBLY OVERTAKES CHAMPAGNE IN USA

(ANSA) - New York, November 2 - Exports of sparkling Italian spumante and prosecco wines have overtaken those of French champagne by as much as 30%, according to the Italian Wine & food Institute (IWFI).

Italian bubbly exports surpassed those of champagne, IWFI explained, ''due to an increase in the volume of the Italian wine exported to the USA, up 9%, while those of French champagne fell sharply, -27% in the first eight months of 2009.

A total of 11.5 million bottles of Italian spumante and prosecco were exported to the American market in the first eight months of the year, compared to 8.9 million bottles of champagne.

Production of Italian sparkling wines also overtook that of champagne this year for the first time.

Italian vineyards are expected to yield 300 million bottles of bubbly this year against 260 million bottles of champagne, according to the Italian farmers' union Coldiretti.

In 2008, for the first time ever, Italy exported more spumante and prosecco than it consumed.