ITALIAN WINE INDUSTRY LEADERS ADAPT TO COVID 19 CONDITIONS
In these unprecedented and dire times, leaders of the Italian wine industry would like to share how they are coping with COVID-19. Thanks to Erin Healy of Colangelo Public Relations for sharing this.
PRESS STATEMENTS
Frescobaldi
Spokesperson: Lamberto Frescobaldi, President of Frescobaldi Group and 30th Generation Leader
“The challenging situation in which we are involved these past few weeks has required us to put into place every possible procedure to safeguard the health of our staff and colleagues, which entails both internal and external measures to limit, even unconsciously, the spread of COVID-19.
We are confident that if we all do our part we will emerge quickly from these difficulties and be able to enjoy ourselves again together over a glass of superb wine.”
Consorzio Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani
Spokesperson: Matteo Ascheri, President Consorzio Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani
“The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting hard on Italy and has especially impacted on some of our most important sectors: tourism and hospitality. It will take time to recover and go back to ‘business as usual’. In the Langhe, our wineries are coping well: despite the lack of cellar visits,
producers are taking advantage of this ‘forced’ slow time to plan, organize, supervise the work in the cellar and in the vineyards and do everything they cannot normally do because of the frequent travelling. Restaurants and bars closure worldwide is obviously a serious problem for our industry. On the other hand, what we have noticed so far is that people have increased their wine consumption at home due to the lockdown. This is of course good news for supermarkets, online retailers and wineries themselves that can ship directly to consumers or set up their own e-commerce, as there is still free circulation of goods. As with every crisis, there are and there will be opportunities. We are carefully planning our activities and strategy for the upcoming months to make sure we make the right choices when the pandemic ends.”
Consorzio Tutela Prosecco DOC
Spokesperson: Stefano Zanette, President, Prosecco DOC Consortium
“The Prosecco DOC Consortium has not issued any statement relating to the situation surrounding the Coronavirus as, in general, our production system is keeping on working in compliance with the prescriptions imposed by authorities.
The difficulties detected at the moment concern the contraction of the internal market, determined by the limitations imposed on public premises and by some peculiar logistical difficulties. It is not easy to forecast the impact on Prosecco producers. The biggest problem would be the persistence of the current situation, its aggravation or the enforcement of new procedures in Italy and in other countries.
The highest concern for our production system is the health of the heavily affected populations around the world. We hope that the circumstances will end as soon as possible, so that we can continue enjoying a glass of Prosecco DOC!”
Ornellaia
Spokesperson: Giovanni Geddes da Filicaja, Ornellaia CEO
“It’s definitely an extremely difficult situation for Italy and its economy due to the Coronavirus which has caused the lockdown of the entire country. I’m aware that Ornellaia will likely suffer a decrease in revenues in the mid-term but I’m confident that numbers will get positive again in the long term. The excellent work done in production as well as on the sales & communication in the past years will ensure a rapid recovery of the revenues in the markets. And this is a statement I can extend to all Italian wines since an amazing job was done so far by the wine producers in order to increase the quality and the value of the products. Now it’s the time to respect the rules dictated by the Government in order to limit the extension of the COVID-19 and hope for a quick recovery. We will be ready to present ourselves stronger when the entire crisis will be over.”
Ornellaia
Spokesperson: Axel Heinz, Ornellaia Estate Director
“With the shutdown due to the Coronavirus, Italy is certainly living a dramatic situation. While the whole country has come to a stop, the vineyards have not. Which is why at Ornellaia the work is continuing as usual in the vineyards and in the winery within the next few weeks, following the rules dictated by the Government. Sales have clearly slowed down and will certainly affect the entire industry, but we will still release all of our wines at their usual dates hoping for a better second part of 2020, as soon as the world has recovered from the coronavirus pandemic.”
Empson & Co
Spokesperson: Tara Empson, CEOand Owner Empson USA
“It has touched my heart to see how unified such a beautiful country can be under such dire circumstances. The constant will to find positivity has brought me strength as well as light in a moment so dark. Our fragile economy has been hit very hard and what saddens me is that most of Italy is made up of small businesses and honest family men and women who work hard every day to provide for themselves and their loved ones. This has brought us to our knees as what makes us who we are is being pushed to the limit. Our hospitality and restaurant industries are paralyzed, and these are just a few of the things that make Italy’s heart beat.
Now I feel like I am going through this twice as even the USA is being hit hard and we have had to start taking similar measures. I see the same pattern that has brought a country as strong as Italy to its knees. My thoughts and prayers go to all the people who are starting to feel scared and wonder how they will cope by the end of the month.
May we all pour ourselves a glass of wine and imagine how many adversities a simple Pre-phylloxera vine has had to endure and how much better its fruits are.”
Fontanafredda
Spokesperson: Chiara DeStefanis, Communications Director Fontanafredda
“We’re keeping strong at Fontanafredda!
All the people at the offices are working from home but my coworkers at the cellar and in the production line make 2 shifts so we can keep producing and shipping wine, in order to guarantee regular supplies to our partners all over the world.
What we’re experiencing is that, while in the Western side of the world, almost all countries are slowly prohibiting all social activities, closing restaurants and bars, with an increase of the off trade and e-commerce turnover, the Asian markets are strongly waking up, with a trend of so-called “revenge shopping” especially in China, which is almost outside of this nightmare.
It’s a difficult moment for Italy and for everybody but, with our typical resilience, we’ll get through this and be stronger than before, with a new approach to life and business.
Everything will be different after the Covid-19 pandemic, but we’re ready and eager to face those new challenges that will come to us!”
Laudemio Frescobaldi
Spokesperson: Matteo Frescobaldi, Laudemio Brand Manager
“The challenging situation in which we are involved these past few weeks has required us to put into place every possible procedure to safeguard the health of our staff and colleagues, which entails both internal and external measures to limit, even unconsciously, the spread of COVID-19.
We are confident that if we all do our part we will emerge quickly from these difficulties and have authentic Italian meals bring us together again.”
Masciarelli
Spokesperson: Chiara Colella, Communication Manager
“As you will have heard, Italy is facing a challenging situation with the spread of Covid-19 in a few areas of the country. In order to prevent further spread of the Covid-19, the Italian government has just issued a decree, which limits the movements and the gatherings of people, and essentially invites the population to stay in their homes, in all of Italy (including our region).
In response to this new decree, we will immediately adopt all recommended sanitary measures as smart working when possible, keeping the droplet distance and wearing masks, goggles and gloves, for our personnel working in offices, cellars and in the fields. Our wine resort, the Castello di Semivicoli will be closed to the public until April 5th. As responsible individuals, of course we will heed our government’s invitation to “stay at home”, and will refrain from any form of activity which may put others in danger of damaging their health.
Yet, there is one thing that will not stop, in Italy or anywhere else. That is Nature.
Seasons will progress, soils will thaw, plants will follow their vegetative cycles, flowers will bloom, and fruits will mature.
Luckily, we work with Nature, which laws are the only ones we can completely trust and reply upon.
Our work continues.
In the vineyards, where the vines are getting ready to bud, unaffected by anything else but temperatures, winds, and light. In the cellar, where our wines are aging in perfect and safe environmental conditions, paying attention only to the passing of time.
The bottles we have produced are laying in faultless conditions in our cellar, and are ready to leave our warehouse, at any time.
There is nothing in the “Italy Stay at Home” decree that limits their healthiness or travelling toward their final destinations, on your tables, wherever that may be.
We are optimistic, and look ahead with confidence, in ourselves, our professional skills, and our country’s resilience.
We have seen, in the last 2 months, how this contagion has been controlled and almost defeated, by the strict measures taken in Asia.
In Italy, we will follow these examples, and prevail as well.”
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