Brunello di Montalcino is like Trump: its success is being driven by the southern U.S. states, from Florida to Virginia and Texas, which are boosting sales of this premier Tuscan red wine. The 17 states that were the new US president's election stronghold account for 42% of overall American wine consumption. Additionally, Brunello di Montalcino sales in this region experienced a 19% increase in volume and a 14% increase in value during the first nine months of the year. In the United States as a whole, volume performance improved by 5%, compared to the -6% average for Italian wines. According to a poll, the Atlantic coast, particularly the off-trade channel, i.e. large-scale distribution, has seen a significant increase in demand. Large wholesaler chains such as CostCo, which also supplies restaurants, are in the front row, with a +47% increase in bottles of Brunello worth more than $50. "The South of the United States", stated Fabrizio Bindocci, president of the Brunello di Montalcino Wine Consortium, is the area with the highest concentration of Brunello consumers in the world and is a key market within the top global buyer, the U.S".