An estimated 900 million bottles of Italian sparkling wine were sold in 2021, with sales in foreign markets up by 20%, new data has shown. Production value exceeded €2.4 billion for the first time, and is up by 170% over the past decade, according to data published by the Italian Wine Union (UIV) - Ismea Observatory. Sparkling wine now accounts for about one-quarter of total Italian wine exports.

Sales of Italian sparkling wine in the large-scale distribution channel in Italy for the first eleven months of 2021 grew 22% in volume and 26% in value, year-on-year. Over 316 million bottles were consumed during the end-of-year festivities, up 18.3% on 2020 and 50% higher compared to five years ago. Of this number, almost three out of four were sold abroad, while some 88 million bottles (+14%) were consumed by Italians.