Mediobanca's Research Office has published its Survey on the wine sector, which analyzes the financial statements and expectations of the 108 leading Italian joint-stock companies operating in the wine sector which in 2011 had a turnover of more than 25 million euros, whose financial statements were aggregates for the period 2007-2011. A sector which, contrary to the trend of Italian manufacturing, continues to grow.
The turnover of wineries in 2012 increased by 6,9%, more abroad (+9,4%) than in Italy (+4,5%), bringing the total turnover by 17,1% above the pre-crisis level (2008). 2011 had closed with a growth of 8,9% on 2010. Technical investments restarted, which after the collapse of 30,1% in 2011, grew by 10%, while advertising investments in the sector increased by 6,5%. % (national ones fell by 14,1%).
Employment also improved, up by 2,6% in 2011, against the decline in that of industry in the strict sense (-1,8%). Between 2007 and 2011, the wine aggregate accumulated an increase in employees (+1,9%) which contrasts with the downsizing marked by companies in the beverage sector (-3,6%) and by the Italian manufacturing industry as a whole (- 5,5%);
The top sellers for 2012 are confirmed by three groups at the top of the ranking by turnover, Cantine Riunite-GIV (514 million turnover, +3,2% on 2011), Caviro (283,6 million, +14,9%) and the Campari wine division (196,4 million, +6,1%). Off the podium was Fratelli Martini Secondo Luigi, fourth with 162,2 million (+12,3% on 2011), followed by the Mezzacorona cooperative, fifth with 160,3 million (+7,9%). Among the top 25 producers, the greatest growth in 2012 was marked by the Collis Veneto Wine Group (+22,2% on 2011), followed by the Casa Vinicola Botter Carlo & C. (+20,7%) and by the Cantina Sociale Cooperativa di Gentle (+20,2%). The best incidence of the net result on turnover is that recorded by Masi Agricola with 16%, ahead of the Santa Margherita Group (14,6%) and Antinori (14%);
Fair optimism also with regard to expectations for 2013: 87% of those interviewed expect not to suffer a drop in sales, only 1,4% have markedly bearish expectations (over 5%) for 2013, against the 9,3% in 2012. Expectations for exports are even more positive: 94% of those interviewed expect it to grow or at most be stable in 2013 (it was 85,6% in 2012).
