Jan 16, 2023

Best products to import from Italy

According to a report by the Confindustria Study Center, wines are the best products to import from Italy, followed by fruit and vegetables, cheese, meat, hazelnuts and truffles. It is not surprising to find Italian wines at the top of food exports, as they have always been a symbol of Italian excellence. On the podium of the most appreciated wine products, we find Prosecco and red wines such as Nebbiolo and Barolo, 80% of which are allocated for export. The most important countries for the export of these typical products are the United States, Germany and France.

Italian wine in the world stands as an icon of the Country to promote wine culture. Boroli has always been a representation of the values related to wine and its territories: constant quality, and ethics, without compromise.

What are the most famous food products made in Italy?

In the panorama of the top Italian food products, it is impossible not to mention wine: red wines in particular represent “the cutting edge” of the Italian and Piedmontese wine scene. Our selection of the best wines to take abroad places Chardonnay alongside Nebbiolo and Barolo.

The best products from Piedmont

Piedmont has always played an important role in the scene of typical Italian products, with prominent excellences and several top products.

Let’s start with the White Truffle of Alba or Tuber Magnatum Pico. Gathered in the woods of the Langhe in autumn, it is considered the truffle par excellence: compared to black truffle, it differs for its much more intense flavor and aroma.
Grown in the hills of southern Piedmont, in the Alta Langa, the PGI Piedmont Hazelnut is considered the best quality for industrial food use, a masterpiece among Italian and international varieties. Protection, supervision, enhancement and promotion of the Tonda Gentile Trilobata belong to the Consorzio di Tutela della Nocciola Piemonte I.G.P., the only institution recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for these purposes.
Another excellence of the area is the cheeses. It is impossible not to mention Castelmagno d’Alpeggio POD, a semi-hard cheese that qualifies as one of the oldest cheeses in Italy; it cannot be produced anywhere else in the world. It is known for its characteristic full-bodied flavor, which goes perfectly with Barolo.
The history of the native cattle of the Piedmontese breed, easily recognized thanks to their white mantle, is thousands of years old. As part of the “Slowfood products”, this delicious meat becomes part of the excellence of the area that respects non-intensive production techniques. Low in fat and very flavorful, Fassona meat is the queen of typical dishes such as tartare, and it is also the main ingredient in Barolo braised beef.

Italy and its export products

A “Coldiretti” analysis, based on Istat data (Italian national statistical institute), has observed for 2022 a growth trend of +14% over 2021 for the exports of Italian food products, with a turnover set to reach 60 billion euros. The most important product in the Italian export panorama is wine. At the top of the countries that have turned out to be the best partners, we find Germany followed by the United States and France. The United Kingdom also recovers its part of the market, after the initial post-Brexit difficulties.

However, it is necessary to emphasize how the export market has, potentially, the opportunity to triple. “Italian sounding” (the strategy comparing other products with original Italian excellence) is an enemy of the Italian products and could be defined as a real fake industry: it has an estimated value of 120 billion euros, including 40 billion euros in the United States alone. In the large group of international food piracy, we find cheeses made in California, imitations of charcuterie and wines that aspire to be appreciated as Prosecco. This is why it is important to recognize and value true Made in Italy products.

Barolo worldwide

The cultural heritage that a typical product carries goes beyond the culinary aspect; it traces the history of the area. Few products can tell the story and their cultural heritage like wine, which becomes a representation for the tradition of a region and its entire country, also telling the magnificent story of a family.

This is why exporting Italian products abroad is necessary, to internationalize a company that has much to tell. To export its wine, Achille Boroli chose a partner, a product supplier of equal excellence: Mähler&Besse. A choice, combined with a decrease in production to focus on quality, that has turned out to be a successful investment.

The best market for Barolo and Barbaresco export is the United States, with a share of around 20%, according to a survey conducted by the Consorzio Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe Dogliani. In terms of the impact of exports, the U.S. is followed by Germany, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Sweden and some new, growing markets such as those of Asia and Oceania.

The observatory of the Italian Wine Union adds an important fact: Barolo exports recorded in 2021 a +22% growth over 2020: 80% of the Barolo production is, therefore, destined for the foreign market. The share of domestic sales, in fact, is around 20% of production.

Quality of product and processing, excellent ingredients, an ageing period of at least 38 months, a different shade according to different geological and microclimatic settings, the culture and passion that has been with us for centuries: this is the secret of Barolo’s success, in Italy and abroad.

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WINERY

The Boroli cellars, located in Castiglione Falletto, are the perfect place to experience the magical territory of the Langhe through tasting experiences and to enjoy an unforgettable experience of discovery and great wine.