(ANSA) - Turin, July 4 - The value of Italian wine exports increased by 10% in the first quarter of 2013, for a total of 1.1 billion euros, narrowing the gap with market champions France, winemakers' association Assoenologi said on Thursday. France's export value for 2012 was 7.8 billion euros compared with 4.7 billion euros in Italy, Assoenologi Director Giuseppe Martelli said. Over four years the value of Italian wine exported increased 25%, from 1.75 euros to 2.20 euros per bottle. "Italian wine has all the potential and what it takes to overcome their French cousins," Martelli said.

Despite the economic crisis gripping the country, there was a 6.5% increase in export value and 8.8% in volume in 2012, the association said