Italian wine facing rising stocks, falling US exports

MILAN: Italian winemakers are caught between rising stockpiles at home and falling exports to the United States, the country’s main wine organisation said Wednesday.

Wines stored in cellars exceeded 5.3 billion litres in May, up 7.3% year-on-year, and the equivalent of an entire harvest, the Unione Italiana Vini warned in a press release during its annual congress in Rome.

As the next harvest approaches, Italian winegrowers are experiencing “difficulties in selling their products”, according to the UIV, with demand falling domestically and internationally.

Exports to the US, the leading market outside Europe, fell by 15.4% over the first four months of 2026 owing to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, a weaker dollar and declining US consumption.

The rise in domestic stocks has pushed down the price by roughly 6% over the first five months of the year.