NEW YORK — Known for its renowned wineries and internationally celebrated products, Emilia-Romagna came to New York for Vinitaly.USA with a record to highlight: it is Italy’s leading region for agri-food exports to the United States, with €562 million in exports in the first six months of 2026. The figure includes the broader supply chain, including agricultural machinery, and accounts for nearly one-seventh of Italy’s total exports in the sector to the American market.

Those numbers set the stage for the region’s mission at Pier 36 in Manhattan, where Vinitaly.USA made its New York debut after two editions in Chicago. The event was organized by Veronafiere in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).

Manuela Rontini, the Regional Government’s Undersecretary, and Alessio Mammi, the Regional Agriculture Councilor, joined Stefano Bonaccini, Member of the European Parliament’s Committees on Agriculture and International Trade, for the opening ceremony. The event also featured the cutting of a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano, a symbol of Italy’s celebrated food heritage.

Alongside wine promotion, with 300 companies showcasing 2,500 Italian labels, Vinitaly.USA also highlighted wine tourism and culinary travel. These sectors offer a particularly valuable opportunity for Emilia-Romagna, where vineyards are closely connected to the region’s cultural attractions, landscapes and culinary traditions.

The promotional effort continued at Eataly Downtown in Manhattan, where media representatives and American market professionals had an opportunity to discover Emilia-Romagna’s food and agricultural heritage firsthand.

“The international wine market is undergoing profound change. Consumption is slowing, competition is intensifying, and tariffs in the United States are creating additional challenges for businesses, which face higher costs and increasingly uncertain trading conditions,” Rontini and Mammi said.

“In this environment, quality alone is not enough. Producers must know how to tell their story, make consumers recognize their value and position their products appropriately in the marketplace. Emilia-Romagna has an extraordinary wine heritage, encompassing established appellations, distinctive territories, major cooperatives and small wineries, each with its own identity.”

The challenge, they said, is to strengthen the position of the region’s wines by emphasizing their distinctive characteristics and origins rather than competing on price alone.

“That is why we have allocated €6.5 million to promote wine in non-EU markets,” they added. “These funds will help companies pursue new commercial opportunities and raise awareness of our products. Being at Vinitaly.USA in New York means bringing that effort to a place where the professionals who shape purchasing and distribution decisions in the American market come together.”

Bonaccini also stressed the international reputation of Italian wines, including those from Emilia-Romagna, arguing that U.S. tariffs are putting that standing at risk.

Economy

Vinitaly.USA makes its New York debut

Valeria Robecco

“Italian wine exports to the United States totaled €1.76 billion in 2025, down about 10% from 2024,” he said. “Across Europe, the decline reached as much as 20%.”

Emilia-Romagna has also felt the impact, Bonaccini said. While the region’s broader agri-food exports to the United States grew 4.4% last year, surpassing €1 billion, wine exports fell 7%.

“That is why we are calling for tariffs to be eliminated, not only in the interest of our businesses but also for the benefit of American consumers and companies,” he said. “Every dollar spent on European wine generates $4.50 in economic activity in the United States, across distribution, retail and restaurants. That represents $24 billion in annual added value for the American economy.”

The region’s visit to New York also provided an opportunity to present Casa Artusi’s International Observatory on Italian Cuisine and Good Taste, along with a program showcasing some of the most representative products of Italy’s Food Valley: Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, Grana Padano PDO, Modena Balsamic Vinegar PGI, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PDO, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Reggio Emilia PDO and Brisighella extra-virgin olive oil PDO.

The final stop on the mission was Canada, where Emilia-Romagna’s broader agri-food exports reached €130.3 million in the first half of 2026, up 2%, even as Italian exports to the country declined 5% overall.