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South African wine producers are "fearful and frustrated" due to the ban on alcohol sales during lockdown, as well as the initial stop-and-go approach government had to the export of wine.
This is according to Nicolò Pudel, co-founder of Port2Port.wine, a South African online wine retailer carrying over 2 000 wines from 400 producers and 11 countries.
Pudel says he has observed this state of mind among many local wine producers in recent weeks, with some indicating that they may be forced to close shop indefinitely due to the impact of the lockdown.
Wine producers' industry body Vinpro said on Friday that the lack of income from domestic revenue streams – over R300 million per week – had undoubtedly already placed several businesses in dire straits, and would lead to thousands of job losses if the matter were not resolved urgently.
Vinpro is still in talks with government to clarify local liquor sales during Level 4 and beyond.
Dirk Harris, exports expert at the Michaelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards – one of Africa's biggest wine competitions – says he believes SA wine producers understand the reasons for the lockdown, but also argue that alcohol sales can be regulated in a practical, responsible manner that will not result in such a dramatic loss in tax revenue.
"It is tricky, but the economic effect of not allowing local alcohol sales is devastating to wineries. They also employ a lot of people," says Harris. "Wineries are trying to export as much wine as possible since they cannot sell on the local market, on which they normally rely heavily."
'Real and dramatic' concerns
Pudel expressed concern over wineries with limited cash flow. "
The fear of a further extension of lockdown or an extension of the alcohol ban no matter what, is real and the situation is dramatic," he said, adding that in his view, the wine industry was suffering disproportionately compared to other countries.
"Overseas producers are able to at least focus on their direct-to-consumer and retail efforts," he said.
Future survival
As the lockdown persists, some wineries have started making hand sanitiser to get an income during lockdown.
Pudel believes wineries will see a spike in direct sales once sales are allowed, and that online sales may continue to grow in future. In the meantime, Port2Port is allowing consumers to purchase wines during lockdown for delivery once regulations allow for it.
"I think there will be a shift toward direct and online sales. I think this will be a great advantage for wineries in the long term, benefitting from higher margins, having control on product placement and owning customer data," he said.
Another trend foreseen due to the greater emphasis on health brought about by coronavirus concerns, is an increased demand for organic wine.
According to Frank Meaker, cellar master at Org de Rac, an organic wine farm in the Swartland region of the Western Cape, its export markets are indicating that the demand for organic wine and food will reach new heights as a result of the way Covid-19 has changed the world and the needs of the consumer.
Dr Morné Mostert, head of the Institute for Futures Research at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, says any crisis leads to an immediate exacerbated reaction. What the coronavirus crisis has done, therefore, is to very suddenly raise huge concerns about personal health among the world's population, resulting in people revisiting their eating and drinking habits.
"The window does not last forever, as humans have proven to drop their initial concerns and go back to their former habits. But what is definite is the current existence of this experimental consumer looking at ways to improve health through, inter alia, organic products. And thereby a unique opportunity has opened up to garner new consumers," says Mostert.
Canned wines – a move for sustainability?
Mulderbosch Vineyards, which currently exports most of its production, trades actively across Europe and the UK, and increasingly in the East. It views North America as a key growth market.
Mulderbosch Vineyards CEO Chrianto Oosthuizen says worldwide, there is a growing recognition of, and support for, the sustainability and convenience of wine in cans.
Mulderbosch plans to introduce canned wines to local and international markets in the near future.
