The Covid containment measures adopted all over the world with the closure of bars and restaurants have had serious effects on the world of Italian wine which for the first time in 30 years has recorded a slowdown in exports with a drop of 3,2 % by value in the first seven months of 2020 with a historic turnaround that is unprecedented.
This is what emerges from the meeting promoted by Coldiretti on the theme "Covid, the challenge of Made in Italy wine" which outlines a not very cheerful future, at least in the immediate future, for Italian wine producers: Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom which represent the The main outlet markets for Italian bottles are, in fact, suffering - explains Coldiretti - due to the rapid spread of the pandemic which also risks jeopardizing orders for the end of the year.
The earthquake on the economy caused by the coronavirus puts at risk the fundamental economic engine generated by Italian wine, which achieves more than half of its turnover abroad. Last year, in fact, exports amounted to 6,4 billion out of a total of 11 billion which developed 1,3 million jobs along the supply chain, now in danger. A heavy blow for Italy which has a production of over 46 million hectoliters in the 2020 harvest which confirms its role as world leader ahead of France. A consolidated record thanks to 504 varieties registered in the vine register against the 278 of the French cousins - underlines Coldiretti - with the Made in Italy bottles destined for about 70% to Docg, Doc and Igt with 332 wines with controlled denomination of origin (Doc ), 73 wines with denomination of controlled and guaranteed origin (Docg), and 118 wines with typical geographical indication (IGT) recognized in Italy and the remaining 30% for table wines.
"Thanks to the action of Coldiretti, various measures have been adopted aimed at giving liquidity to producers and reducing the stocks of wines and grapes from the new harvest, but also tax relief, incentives for the purchase of wine and Italian products" said the President of Coldiretti Ettore Prandini in underlining that "there is uncertainty and concern among entrepreneurs, but Italy has the potential to restart better than the others".
"Internationalization is therefore an obligatory choice for our country which must seize this moment of crisis to develop a more incisive strategy of presence on foreign markets" continued Prandini in specifying that "companies must be helped to overcome this difficult moment and the recovery must be prepared with an extraordinary internationalization plan also with the creation of new commercial channels and a massive communication campaign, overcoming the current fragmentation and dispersion of resources by aiming, in the first place, at national management through a single agency which accompany companies around the world, enhancing the strategic role of the ICE and with the support of the embassies”.
In this context, a first objective was achieved with the presence of Josè Rallo as the first agricultural representative on the board of directors of ICE who comes from the world of wine but also with the arrival for the first time in the Italian embassies of the Councilor Agricultural diplomat.
