USA, China and Japan have been on the priority list of Vinitaly this year. Therefore, after conducting a successful 4 th edition of Vinitaly USA 2006 from October 24-27 in Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, this most important and visible Italian wine show moved yesterday, to Tokyo for a day of guided wine tasting in the morning and a seminar in the afternoon of top Italian wines.
This is the first event of its kind to be held in Japan and follows another successful debut - in Mumbai and Delhi in January this year. Seminars were organised in collaboration with BuonItalia, as well as tastings dedicated to wines from Sicily and the Veneto, organised by the Sicilian Regional Wine and Vine Institute and UVIVE - the Union of DOC Veneto Wine Consortia.
Japan has been included in the Vinitaly Tour calendar following growing interest among consumers for wine and increased Italian exports. 'In the first 8 months of this year, Italian wine exports to Japan came to almost 62.4 million Euro, against 56.4 in the same period last year' says Camillo Cametti, Director in charge for international affairs of Verona Fiere. This is equal to about 18.8 million litres, compared to 16.7 million liters in the same period in 2005', he adds.
Indian wine producers should also find the commercial prospects for Japan very exciting.
Japan does not boast its own wine-making traditions and yet over two thirds of adults drink wine. Average annual consumption is currently only 2 litres per capita, although the regular wine drinkers have consumption levels similar to those in Europe .
Vinitaly International moves to Shanghai for the 8 th edition of Vinitaly China being held on November 23-25. Shanghai with over 17 million inhabitants is the most densely populated and developed city.
The International show moves to India for the second time with Vinitaly India in Mumbai on January 17 followed by the Delhi edition two days later.
For more details visit www.vinitaly.com |