Vinitaly USA turned Chicago’s Navy Pier into the world marketplace for Italian wines. For two days, 230 Italian wine producers poured 1650 wines to 1500 wine buyers, importers, wine aficionados and members of the wine press.
This was the first edition of the world-wide festival to be held in the United States and by all accounts it was a success. The original is held every spring in Verona, Italy. The Navy Pier edition featured wines from five regions, each with its own pavilion and programs, including Calabria, Campania, Friuli9-Venezia Giulia, Latium and Sardinia. Representatives from the Veneto and Umbria regions also joined in.
“Wine is one of the main ambassadors of Italy to the world,” Vinitaly USA President Carlo Alberto Delaini said after the opening ceremony. “In this way, we are bringing the spirit of Verona to Chicago and the world.”
Chicago was chosen as the location of the first American edition of Vinitaly because of its strong presence in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Each year, the National Restaurant and Hospitality Show is held at Chicago’s McCormick Place, which brings more than 100,000 members of the food, beverage, restaurant and hotel industry to Chicago from around the world. The organizers of Vinitaly USA say they hope to mirror that type of worldwide attention in the years ahead.
“There’s a strong bond between Illinois and the wine industry,” Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said after cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony. “Wine production in Illinois goes back more than 150 years. Chicago and the location of the first Vinitaly USA here is also a testament to the impact that Italians have had here on food, art and culture. You can find connections to Italy all over the city.”
Among the wine producers present was Matteo Lunelli, President of Cantine Ferrari of Trentino. “There’s been a tremendous reception of the premium wine sector among restaurants and the general public. We’re seeing increased interest in Ferrari Perle Trentodoc and Ferrari Perle Rose Riserva 2017 Trentodoc. This is an indication that the wine buying public in Chicago has a palate for wine that is a cut above!” Ferrari said.
The United States is the top market in the world for Prosecco DOC. Imports topped 42 million bottles within the first four months of 2024 and the number continues to surge.
Lamberto Frescobaldi, President of Frescobaldi Wines Toscana had an introspective approach to the changes he is seeing in the current wine market. “There are tremendous challenges because of the rapid change in consumer and industry buying habits post COVID. The public is spending more money at restaurants, but they want to know that they are getting a high-quality wine for their money. Value is the word we most often hear on this end of the wine industry.”
Also noted are restaurants no longer want to hold huge amounts of inventory in their wine cellars. “There’s a real trend toward buying only what they need at the exact time that they need it-half cases or partial cases of two or three bottles are the new orders we are receiving. The restaurants want their wine delivered several times a week on an ‘as needed’ basis. This is becoming the order of the day.”
“The problem is that it costs producers like me just as much to ship a full case of wine as it does a partial case. There are also the added shipping and transportation charges involved in making frequent deliveries to restaurants and wine shops that are our regular customers.”
Despite the changes, Frescobaldi believes that the industry is nimble enough to find creative ways to compensate for the changes in the current environment. “We have to find new ways to maximize profits in today’s challenging environment. But then, that’s always been our conundrum!
Italian wine and food have become integral parts of the American way of life. There are wines from every region of Italy available in local restaurants and wine stores throughout Chicagoland. As an immediate result of this year’s Vinitaly USA, there will be a virtual cornucopia of wines from Italy’s various regions available at wine shops or restaurants in your local community. Enjoy the bounty of this spontaneous wine harvest!
