Wineries around the world are feeling the pinch as cellar-door sales fall amid Covid-19 lockdowns, but on the upside, their product will not spoil
Israeli wine tourism expert Guy Haran gives an online presentation about the Israeli wine industry using Zoom to dozens of British wine writers on behalf of the Israeli Tourist office of London on April 22 2020, near Tel Aviv, Israel, during the Covid-19 lockdown. Picture: GETTY IMAGES/DAVID SILVERMAN
It’s a scene playing out around the world, from California to Cape Town. Centuries-old wineries and vineyards are re-assessing their businesses at every step as the coronavirus pandemic roils everything from labour and transportation to vital tourism and hospitality industries. Many wineries are building on direct-to-consumer sales through websites or membership clubs. For PlumpJack in Napa Valley, which relies on restaurants for two-thirds of its business, that means FaceTime tastings and virtual Q&A sessions.
“That fraction is working very well and bringing great results, but it’s a fraction of the whole thing,” said Wolfgang Klotz, director of marketing and sales.In terms of exports, the outlook remains murky as shutdowns thwart demand and disrupt logistics. The EU expects wine exports to fall 14% in 2019/2020, while in Australia, first-quarter shipments were down 7%, including a 14% drop to China, according to Wine Australia.
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