As the President of the Republic has announced a lockdown for the French to fight the coronavirus epidemic, where does that leave the wine industry? First of all, our thoughts are with everyone affected in the world of wine, whatever their role. This unprecedented crisis directly touches each of us, and we are acting together to get through it. Wine and coronavirus: that is a tough mix. So let’s break down the impact of coronavirus on wine together.
The impact of coronavirus on wine consumption
It is still hard to gauge the impact of coronavirus on wine consumption. Sales will naturally drop in the coming weeks in favor of more essential everyday products. Suffice it to say that wine apps will not be running hot in the supermarkets. We do suspect, though, that wine lovers have stocked their cellars. With a wine cellar at the right temperature and good reserves, some lockdown evenings could quickly turn into wine tasting sessions.
Wine and coronavirus: the closure of the châteaux
Many châteaux had already put in place all the protective measures to slow the spread of coronavirus. For example, many meetings could be held outdoors at a distance of one meter. But everything sped up after the lockdown was announced. Many château staff are no longer available, so the vines have to be tended with far fewer people: enough to cause sleepless nights and headaches for many winegrowers. Of course, visits and wine-tourism activities are suspended. That is the case at Domaine la Calmette, a Cahors wine we are very fond of. It is closing its doors to visitors until the coronavirus epidemic eases. The point is to protect both visitors and the winegrowers. What would become of the vines without them? !Wine and coronavirus: closure of Domaine la Calmette
Coronavirus and the wine trade
The wine trade is of course affected too. Buying wine, and selling it, now looks harder given the instructions to stay home. The sector is adapting accordingly. Buying wine online to receive it by parcel can be a solution.
The merchant trade
The big merchant houses are organizing too. All staff are encouraged to stay home, and work carries on that way. The major tastings planned for this period are all cancelled. That includes the various fairs, tastings and also the en primeur campaign. The latter has been pushed back to a date still unknown at the time of writing.
The closure of wine bars and drinking spots
For their part, places where wine is consumed, such as wine bars and restaurants, are closed. Many have chosen to give their perishable goods to local residents or to charities. These places are clearly seeing a sharp drop in activity.
The question of wine merchants
The authorities and the government have called for the closure of all establishments open to the public that are not essential to the life of the country. That raises the question of wine merchants. They are retail and neighborhood businesses. The decree of 15 March 2020 setting out various measures relating to the fight against the spread of the covid-19 virus lists “Retail sale of beverages in specialized stores” as an activity allowed to remain open. But given the scale of the situation, the federation of independent wine merchants called, in a press release, for “all colleagues not to open their businesses, as a responsible and civic-minded act”. Alternative solutions, such as delivery or click and collect, are encouraged to develop.
The impact of coronavirus on an entire sector
The coronavirus also has effects on aspects of wine production we would never imagine. For example, someone interviewed recently said their glassmaker (in charge of producing bottles) had to keep the furnaces hot. If the furnaces go out, it is not just production that stops for a few days. Production would in fact be halted for several months. Such an event would throw bottle production into doubt! We imagine the situation must be similar for coopers unable to deliver to their customers.
In this lockdown, if you do not know what to do, take the chance to taste wine and make a toast while filling in a tasting sheet based on your discoveries! And good news, you can get one for free.