2020 Outlook for the Wineries

Of course wine tasting rooms are closed and it remains to be seen for how long. Most retail business is suffering the same fate. Once wineries reopen for tasting they will still need tourists. That might be a problem. Even when things open up again will people be anxious to go on vacation or will we be cautious? Regardless, the sales lost now will never be recouped as I don't see people getting out of their house and buying cases and cases of wine. We'll see.

image from patch.com

The other part of this is the fall harvest. Beginning in August most vineyards and wineries need foreign workers to pick and process the wine grapes. It's already been a bit tough getting people in the last few years what with the U.S. not seeming so friendly to foreign workers and jobs already being plentiful with the great economy (though that might be gone). Now adding in the virus that may still be keeping world travel down plus the fact that many experts think it will return in the cooler autumn weather. Again, we'll see.

The potential lack of seasonal agricultural workers is a bigger problem than the wine harvest as it could affect our food supply.

It's not looking very rosy for the wineries as it is will many other businesses. You can, of course, help by ordering some wine from your favorite small, family wineries and have it delivered right to your door. I mean, we all still need our wine, right? 

The good news for wineries is that, for now anyway, there is significant growth in their online sales channels. Not all wineries are using this to its fullest, but the ones that are seem to be getting great response. I've bought wine online from wineries I'm not familiar with since this all started a few weeks ago.

So far we all seem to be doing our part.
Online alcohol sales jump 243%