“Vinitaly.USA 2026 aims to engage producers, consortia, importers, distributors, Ho.Re.Ca. operators, and institutional stakeholders interested in a project focused on quality, meaningful content, and long-term relationships, contributing significantly to the growth of Italian wine in the United States,” emphasizes Federico Bricolo, president of Veronafiere.
The choice of New York City is based on a clear market strategy. The area is home to importers, distributors with multi-state coverage, purchasing centers, and groups from the restaurant and retail sectors operating across multiple markets.
“Vinitaly USA is a project that the ITA-Italian Trade Agency has supported since its inception. We have focused heavily on the quality of international participants to enhance the promotional aspect of the event and have worked on developing commercial relationships,” notes Matteo Zoppas, president of ITA-Italian Trade Agency.
“With the aim of filling the gap created by the absence of a true wine fair in the United States, we renew our commitment to supporting a project that is both timely and practical, particularly during this sensitive period for the wine sector and the U.S. market, which is currently facing the burdens of tariffs, currency exchange fluctuations, and a more cautious consumer behavior,” he concludes.
The State of New York accounts for 6.5% of the total wine consumption in the United States, ranking as the third-largest market nationwide after California and Texas, and as the leading state in the Northeast with 34% of the region’s consumption. New York also offers a unique ecosystem in terms of visibility and influence. The strong concentration of specialized press, opinion leaders, and industry informants enables exhibitors to extend their exposure well beyond the event days, enhancing dialogue with the market and contributing to greater recognition of Italian wine in the United States.
