Italian vineyards see a glass that's half full in China

Italy is looking to topple France as China's top wine exporter, a senior Italian official in Chengdu said on Wednesday.

French wine continues to dominate the Chinese market, and wines from Chile and Australia enjoy tariff reductions. But Sergio Maffettone, the Italian consul-general in Chongqing and former news counselor of the Italian Embassy in China, insists there is "huge space for improvement" for Italian wine to gain market share.

Maffettone said the Italian government is supporting Italian companies and producers "by all means" possible in their efforts to export more to China.