ROME - Italy's wine sales to China registered a record increase in terms of value last year, according to a market study released here on Thursday.

"In 2016, Italy achieved the highest growth in terms of value (of wine exports) in China, compared to all major competitors," Bologna-based wine monitor Nomisma said in a report.

The study specifically focused on global wine exports to the BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

"Italian wine exports to China reached a 39 percent increase in the segment of still bottled wines," said the report.

Overall, Italy ranked fifth in wine sales to China, far behind France, Australia, Chile, and Spain.

But the performance of Italian wines becomes remarkable when growths of all the five countries are taken into account.

"Italy's was a respectable performance, considering both the category's average trend (17 percent increase) in 2016, and those of direct competitors such as Spain (up 27 percent), Australia and Chile (up 24 percent), and the leader of the market, France (up 12 percent)," the wine monitor said.