The second stop of the Vinitaly India Roadshow was held in Goa on 18 January 2026, following its inauguration in New Delhi on 16 January. The Roadshow represents a key initiative aimed at strengthening the presence of the Italian wine sector in the Indian market.
Organised by Veronafiere in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), the event brought together over 30 Italian companies, including a delegation from the prestigious Consorzio per la Tutela dei Vini Valpolicella, showcasing an extraordinary diversity of territorial identities and production excellence. The initiative was attended by Ambassador Bartoli, the Consul General of Italy in Mumbai Walter Ferrara, and the Minister of Tourism of Goa, Shri Rohan Khaunte, underscoring the importance attributed to the event within the broader framework of bilateral economic relations.
The Roadshow provided a structured platform for targeted B2B meetings between Italian producers and more than 200 importers, distributors, Ho.Re.Ca. (Hotel-Restaurant-Café) operators, and selected buyers. These meetings fostered concrete commercial contacts and opened medium- to long-term collaboration prospects. Alongside business engagements, the programme included guided tastings and in-depth masterclasses conducted by Sonal Holland, India’s first Master of Wine, contributing to increased awareness and appreciation of Italian wines among a qualified and quality-oriented audience.
According to data from the UIV–Vinitaly Observatory, the total value of wine imports into India currently amounts to USD 30.5 million. While still modest in global terms, the market has recorded—excluding the pandemic period—an average annual growth rate of +12% in value, confirming its dynamic expansion. This growth is driven by rising disposable income, evolving urban consumption patterns, and the emergence of a young, cosmopolitan middle class. Within this context, Italy ranks as the fourth largest supplier overall and second among European countries, registering a growth rate of +14%, above the market average and among the highest among leading exporters.
Future prospects appear further strengthened by the broader framework of EU–India economic relations. The event took place just days before the signing of the historic EU–India Partnership in New Delhi on 27 January 2026, following 20 years of negotiations. The agreement—between two economies that together represent nearly one quarter of global GDP—foresees tariff reductions on EU products amounting to €4 billion. The wine sector, in particular, benefited from the immediate halving of federal duties, previously set at 150%, with a gradual reduction to 30% within seven years (20% for wines priced above €10 per bottle).
Beyond its commercial dimension, the Vinitaly India Roadshow also carries strategic significance. The initiative contributes to consolidating Made in Italy as a synonym of quality, authenticity, and cultural heritage. Wine, in particular, represents not merely an agri-food product, but a vehicle of territorial identity and lifestyle.
By strengthening direct connections between Italian enterprises and local operators, the Roadshow supports the development of more solid distribution networks, the expansion of Italy’s presence in key Indian economic hubs, and the creation of new opportunities within the Ho.Re.Ca. channel and specialized retail.
The initiative thus confirms itself as a strategic platform of economic diplomacy, successfully combining trade promotion with cultural valorization, and reinforcing Italy’s presence in one of the most promising emerging markets in the Indo-Pacific region
