VINITALY.USA MAKES SUCCESSFUL NEW YORK DEBUT: 3,000 INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS FROM 40 COUNTRIES AND 20 U.S. STATES

Attendance Up 36% Compared to the Previous Edition in Chicago, with Strong Participation from High-Profile Buyers. 300 Exhibitors Showcase 2,500 Italian Wines. Six in Ten Attendees Represent Distribution and Hospitality, While 800 Top Buyers Were Selected and Invited by Veronafiere and ITA – Italian Trade Agency.

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. wine distribution and hospitality took center stage at Vinitaly.USA, which concluded its inaugural New York edition yesterday, welcoming more than 3,000 industry professionals, a 36% increase compared to the 2025 edition in Chicago, representing 20 U.S. states and 40 countries.

The event also welcomed 222 accredited media professionals, while more than 1,690 business meetings took place among the 300 Italian wine companies exhibiting 2,500 Italian wine labels at Pier 36.

The results were particularly notable for the strong presence of qualified buyers, distributors, and hospitality professionals, who together accounted for 60% of all registered attendees at the third edition of the Veronafiere-organized event.

This concentration of industry decision-makers was made possible through the joint efforts of Veronafiere and ITA – Italian Trade Agency, which developed a targeted buyer recruitment program involving nearly 800 top buyers, representing approximately 27% of total attendance. Selected, invited, and hosted in New York for Vinitaly.USA, these buyers came from numerous U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico.

"We are very pleased with Vinitaly.USA's debut in New York and the positive feedback received from exhibiting companies, which underscores the value of our collaboration with institutions," said Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere, following the event. "Our partnership with ITA – Italian Trade Agency, the support of the Ministries of Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, and Tourism, and our collaboration with industry representatives have enabled us to join forces in promoting Italian wine and wine tourism. This collective effort has shaped an initiative that is proving essential to strengthening our presence in the U.S. market while highlighting the role of a sector that is fundamental to Made in Italy. The strength of the Italian system also lies in its ability to establish a shared direction for international promotion, multiplying the effectiveness of individual initiatives."

"The success of this edition of Vinitaly.USA confirms that choosing New York City was the right strategic decision, not only because of the attendance figures, but above all because of the quality of the industry professionals present, the intensity of business meetings, and the concrete opportunities created for our companies," said Giovanni Sacripante, General Manager of Veronafiere. "The U.S. market remains essential for Italian wine, but it is evolving rapidly. Consumers, drinking habits, and competitive dynamics are changing. In this environment, the response cannot be purely commercial. We must help our companies understand the market, reach new consumers, and build value. This is the role we want to strengthen for Vinitaly: not simply an international business platform, but a strategic tool to support the competitiveness of Italian wine."

Alongside business matchmaking activities, the 13th edition of wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum featured more than 20 panel discussions exploring evolving U.S. consumer demand, strategies for different American markets, and wine tourism, with programming led by Vinitaly Tourism.

Further strengthening the connection between New York and Verona, Wine Spectator announced the selection of 150 wineries for OperaWine 2027, scheduled for April 10 at the Gallerie Mercatali in Verona.

"We can consider the decision to bring Vinitaly to New York to support its continued growth as a success. Despite the extremely challenging period facing the industry, the quality of attendance, including strategic buyers and leading producers, demonstrates the American market's interest in our products, extending beyond the United States itself," said Matteo Zoppas, President of ITA – Italian Trade Agency. "All the conditions are in place to take another significant step forward in the quality of future editions. On one hand, the market is adjusting to a new environment following the introduction of tariffs. On the other, we and the broader institutional and industry network must now provide even closer support to a sector that is calling for it. Together with Veronafiere and Vinitaly, we will continue our strategic efforts to identify and engage buyers and industry professionals."

The Vinitaly international calendar continues with three stops on the Vinitaly Asia Roadshow: Hong Kong on November 13–14, Shanghai on December 4, and Bangkok on December 7.

Vinitaly.USA 2026 featured 300 exhibitors showcasing 2,500 Italian wines, including individual wineries, regional and industry associations (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Sardinia, Umbria, Enoteca Regionale dell'Emilia-Romagna, Italia del Vino, and Cooperativa Produttori Vitivinicoli di Matelica), and wine consortia (Asti DOCG, Brunello di Montalcino, Prosecco DOC, Vini dell'Elba, Sicilia DOC, Lugana DOC, and delle Venezie DOC).

All exhibitor statements are included in THIS FILE and will be shared on Vinitaly.USA's official social media channels in the coming weeks.

About Vinitaly.USA

Vinitaly.USA is the U.S. edition of Vinitaly, the international wine and spirits trade exhibition organized annually in Verona by Veronafiere. Created to strengthen business opportunities and market access for Italian wine in the United States, Vinitaly.USA brings together Italian producers, regional consortia, importers, distributors, buyers and other industry professionals. The third edition will take place at Pier 36 in New York on 26-27 October 2026 and is organized by Veronafiere-Vinitaly in partnership with ITA-Italian Trade Agency. The event will feature more than 300 exhibitors, B2B meetings, tastings, masterclasses and market-focused seminars, alongside wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum, Vinitaly Tourism and educational programs by Vinitaly International Academy. Building on Vinitaly's nearly 60-year history in Verona, Vinitaly.USA extends the Vinitaly platform into the U.S. market, creating a dedicated meeting point for the Italian wine sector and the American trade.

Media Contact
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SOURCE Vinitaly.USA