TOP TIPPLERS
Wine consumption in Europe is finally on the increase after years of decline (223.8 billion hl last year alone). Luxembourg is top of Europe's tipplers with 64.5 litres being imbibed per capita each year. The French come a close second with 58.8 litres and the Italians are down to third place with 55.6 litres while the average German drinks a mere 18.1 litres (of wine).
(From Weinbauverband Wurttemberg, the wine-producers association from Baden-Wurttemberg, 2001)

WINE FOR EVERYONE
Italy is exporting more wine than ever before. Indeed from 1995 to 2000 the quantity of Italian wine sold abroad has gone up from 3.348 to 4.712 million hl. There is an even greater increase in the amount of wine bottled over the same period: from 58.1% in 1995 to 77.2% in 2000.
(From Istat)

WINE BARS ARE IN
The number of wine bars in Italy has gone up by 40% in the last 5 years.
(From the "Vino & Giovani" Conference, Siena 2000)

A WEALTH OF WINE
Italian wine-producers profits have risen by 37% over the last five-year period, which production is up by 5%. The wine industry is now a fundamental part of the economy for a total value of 16,000 billion lire each year, 4500 of which are from the export market and 4150 are net profits.
(From Istat)

AND THE WINNER IS . . .
 What four Italian regions account for half of the country's wine production? Easy! Veneto (8.8 million hl), Apulia (7.8), Sicily (7.1) and Emilia Romagna (6.9). Weather conditions in 2000 caused a drop of up to 10% in grape production in some 8 regions.
(From Istat)