Buonasera Steve,
Firstly, you are quite intuitive and on the mark ...
In the Madrid Capital, for example El Corte Inglés, has a few well selected Californian, French, German, Italian and South African wines however, in comparison the enormous Spanish selections are at a much fairer price. The upper income earning professional and knowledgeable Spaniards are slow to purchase foreign wines.
Many locals drive up to a winery, do a taste testing and food pairing course, spend a fab wkend and purchase wines at discounted wholesale prices as well.
The Italian wineries are quite a bit smaller than the Spanish 75 D.O.C.s and Spanish wineries, though, there are numerous corporations that could compare size wise to the Californian or Washington State wine estates, there are many which are Boutique wineries, thus, producing only Crianza, or oak barrel fermented aged wines and Reserves and Gran Reserves and thus, do not export abroad. The wineries that export abroad for example, Miguel Torres has been in business since 1850 or so.
The exemplary wine producers are suppliers to the enormous bar, hotel, spa and gastronomic restaurant scene the country possesses.
The larger wineries, producing Cava, Whites and Rosés have a vast export market to Japan, Switzerland and have begun producing wines for Kosher usage in Israel.
Italy on the other hand, is undergoing an enological re-engineering and the next enormous wine estates producing top quality wines, is southern Puglia Reds.
French wines in comparison to Spanish; there are very few French restaurants in Spain, and Bordeaux Reds for example, have varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah which has not proven as successful as the Spanish 100% Tempranillo Ribera del Duero or Toro, Zamora Mono Varietals.
It is always an enjoyment to speak about wines with you.
Thanks for all your savvy ...
Have a lovely wkend.
Ciao, Margaux.
Buonasera, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Cá Salina Di Valdobbiadene 
Superiore Di Cartizze 
Are you posting this thread in response to someones statement?
