Rome - Italian wines are very popular in the United States, according to a survey conducted by Wine Intelligence on a sample of 4,000 wine consumers in the US, on behalf of the Consortium representing Valpolicella wine producers.

A reported 77% of those polled said they knew Italian wines, with almost four in 10 (38%) saying they had bought Italian labels.

Only Californian products were more popular than Italian wines, followed by French wines, Italy's direct competitor, known by 75% of those surveyed and bought by 31%.
Spain followed, along with other US areas, Australia, Argentina and Chile.

Italian red wines Valpolicella and Amarone, according to the survey, were the most well-known wines for 62% of the connoisseurs surveyed, a category that represents 31% of American wine consumers.

An average range of consumers (31%) followed while Valpolicella and Amarone wines were predominantly unknown to occasional and basic consumers (7%).

"We have started monitoring US consumers in a more in-depth and continuative way to understand the strengths and weaknesses of a denomination that sees the US as the main market among third countries", said the director of the Consortium of Valpolicella Wines, Olga Bussinello.

"It is no coincidence that we will be in Chucago and Washington in mid-October for a celebrative tour of the 50 years of DOC", the controlled designation of origin awarded in 1968.

Created in 1924, the Consortium is an association that includes wine growers and producers in the area of production of Valpolicella wine, which includes 19 municipalities in the northern Italian province of Verona.

In collaboration with:
Consorzio per la tutela dei vini Valpolicella