Exports of Tuscan wine Chianti Classico held steady in 2007 and the United States continued to buy around 30% of production, the Chianti Classico consortium reports.
Speaking at a two-day sneak preview of the coming year's new vintages, consortium president Marco Pallanti said stable quantities of the wine were exported to Germany and England last year while demand in Japan rose by 2%.
One in three bottles of the wine were consumed by Italians.
Around 288,000 hectolitres were given the Chianti Classico stamp in 2007, up 6.76% on the previous year, and estimated turnover was 270 mln euros.
Pallanti said he was excited about the new vintages that will be making their debut on the shelves over the next few months.
''Speaking as president of the consortium and as a wine expert, the 2007 vintage is extraordinary and will bring us repeated satisfaction,'' he said.
To qualify for the famous black rooster label of Chianti Classico, wine has to adhere to strict criteria that include designated geographical origin, a minimum 80% Sangiovese red grape content and ''a smell of violets''.
