Italian wine is a success story, especially in Germany. Why might that be? Is it because Germans love traveling to Bella Italia so much? Because they cherish the Dolce Vita practiced there? Love the Italian food? Or is it because the wines sound like the summery south, offer top quality, and can often still be purchased at an excellent price-performance ratio?
The success of Italian wines certainly has multiple reasons. The fact is: With 5.2m hl, Italy held the largest share of the German import market (totaling 12.3m hl) in 2023, according to current figures from the German Wine Institute (DWI) – 7% more than the previous year. The value of imports rose slightly by 0.7% to €1.028bn. Red wine is a cause for concern: It lost 7.3% in value and 5.2% in volume. Conversely, sales of white wine rose by 6.7% in value and 12.3% in volume.
Despite the good figures, one thing is clear: Italian wine is not a guaranteed success in the German, Austrian, and Swiss markets. Wines from the ‘Boot’ are also affected by declining consumption, changing consumer habits, and a contracting gastronomy sector.
So, what does it take to remain successful with Italian wines in the D-A-CH region? How are markets changing, how are consumers changing? Meininger’s Wine Conference on March 14, 2026 – the day before ProWein – will address precisely these exciting questions in depth.
Whether you are already successfully operating in the D-A-CH markets with your wines or want to develop them as new markets, we will provide you with valuable insights and the latest scientific data – for instance, from Prof. Dr. Prof. h.c. Gergely Szolnoki of Geisenheim University or Prof. Dr. Marc Dreßler from the Weincampus Neustadt.
Edoardo Freddi, CEO and founder of Edoardo Freddi International Srl, will also report on the foundations of his success in Germany, and Veronika Crecelius, Italy correspondent for our sister magazine WEINWIRTSCHAFT, will lead a panel discussion with leading wine importers from the D-A-CH region. We will start with a market overview for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland respectively. You can find all further information on the program and speakers here.
The team at WEINWIRTSCHAFT and Meininger’s International looks forward to welcoming you to the Hilton Hotel in Düsseldorf on March 14, 2026. We promise an exciting day with many valuable impulses and numerous opportunities for networking and exchange. Register today and secure your ticket.
Dining and Cooking