Italian Wines: 2006 sky-high sales Top $ 1 Billion in the U.S.

22 Million Cases of Italian Wine Sold in the United States

According to the Coldiretti's these numbers controversially should worry the Ministry of Political Agricultures. The tillage organization is in fact basing its preoccupation on the November 2 nd decree - announced by Minister of Agriculture Paolo De Castro, which prohibits the use of wood shavings in matters of aging wine but only to limited portions - approximately 40% of Docg's and Doc's throughout all Italian vintners are untouched by it. This would allow some of the regional denominations (big chunk of international exports) to change their aging ways. Coldiretti now feares a backfire of the 'Made in Italy' exports due to the decree affecting the upcoming market. "We are seeing great results, very important numbers" Observed Coldiretti.

"Wine is the primary link of our agricultural goods present today in the States, it enfolds one quarter of our Made in Italy products exported internationally". With these ideals of preservation and success the organized agricultural federation presided by Paolo Bedoni was able to entice the interest of Citta' del Vino, Federconsumatori, Codacons, Abusbef, Adoc, Slow-food Italia and Legambiente to stand up an appeal to the Tar in order to extend the prohibitions of wood shavings to all national vintners. Coldiretti finally stated. "We are only trying to guarantee the continuing of this successful process which has so far given us the predominance of this market - by keeping our wines free of wood shavings, therefore beating the Australian competition where in fact these practices are admitted".

Based on data from the IWFI, Italy last year exported a total of 2,122,985 hectoliters of wine to the US.

Alfredo Iannaccone