On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, I Vini del Piemonte will be back in Belgium for the 4°edition of the Barolo & Friends Event in Brussels.

After the success of the last three editions of the event in Antwerp, the most important event on Piemonte wines will open its doors to wine professionals and wine lovers in the Belgian capital.

The day will consist of a walk around tasting and in-depht master classes on Piemonte wines guided by an important speaker. The event is open to professionals (importers, ho.re.ca, press) and, in the evening, to selected winelovers and wine clubs members.

PROGRAM:

• Seminar for producers on the Italian wine market in Belgium
• Masterclass of deepening turned to the trade
• Walk around tasting for professionals
• Walk around tasting aimed at an audience of selected wine lovers and wine clubs

THE BELGIAN WINE MARKET

• Consumption trends are changing, with a growing preference for high-quality wines from well-recognized wine regions. Piedmont, with its numerous DOC and DOCG wines, can satisfy this request for authenticity and origin.
• In Belgium, the export of Italian wines recorded in the period January-October 2022 a market share of 16.5% in value, ranking second immediately behind France and recording in the first ten months of the year a +12.6% compared to the same period of 2021.
• Belgium ranked 10th among the biggest consumers of wine per capita
• Belgians prefer red wines (52%) to white wines (30%) and rose wines (18%)
• New Trends:
  • Growing interest for indigenous varieties: the interest is strongly linked to the narration of the territory and of wines that bring with them typicity, history and tradition.
    Lighter and fresher wines with softer tannins that match better with lighter meals caused by
    concerns about healthy diets.
  • Belgians love bubbles! Sparkling wine has become more popular in recent years. Although the per capita consumption of champagne in Belgium is the highest in the world, other king of sparkling wines are becoming increasingly attractive looking at a favorable quality/ price ratio. Interest in PetNat is also growing.
  • Consumers tend to pay less attention to traditional labels by preferring more trendy ones.
  • Increasing attention to sustainability: in terms of production, but also packaging.