Foreign flavour lights up Vinitaly

Last week’s Vinitaly wine and spirit exhibition drew a record number of overseas visitors to the show.

Almost 156,000 people attended the show from 7-11 April, with more than 48,000 of those coming from overseas.

Ettore Riello, president of event organiser VeronaFiere, said: "The top 10 countries of origin [of overseas visitors] sees Germany at the forefront, followed by the US and Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Austria, [as well as] countries in Eastern Europe with major attendance from Russia, China and Hong Kong."

Giovanni Mantovani, CEO and director general of VeronaFiere, added: “Despite the dramatic events affecting Japan, attendance by Japanese buyers held steady and Vinitaly in the World is considering a special initiative on behalf of the Japanese people, who hold Italian products and culture in such high esteem.”

Alan Lodge, 13.04.2011