(AFP) - Italy is bidding to close the gap with its competitors in wine exports to China, said organisers of a major wine fair that opened on Sunday with a Chinese commerce ministry delegation in attendance.

The Vinitaly fair in Verona in northern Italy is "a connecting bridge between Italian wine producers and the Asian market, which is close to becoming the biggest consumer of wine in the world," organisers said in a statement.

Italy is only fifth among countries exporting wine to China with a market share of 6.2 percent and "it needs to close the gap", the statement said.

Italian wine sales to China amounted to 102.4 million euros ($132.3 million) in 2012 and China is to become the world's top consumer in 2015, it said