It is now many weeks coronavirus is the only topic everyone is talking
about, it is something which has practically colonized the whole world of
information, as well as the life of people in different ways and outcomes. The
huge spreading of this virus has also led to the declaration of pandemic by the
World Health Organization. The consequences of the spreading of this virus have
forced radical changes in people's behavior with a significant impact on the
economy of all countries. These are preventive measures – therefore desirable
and understandable in the interest of all of us, none excluded – for the
purpose of limiting the spreading of this virus, in the hope it will be
defeated soon. The containment measures have not been simple – as,
indeed, the current situation is not simple – requiring everyone, so to speak,
sacrifices which have totally changed our lifestyles, albeit in a
temporary way.
To bear the enormous weight of this condition, undeniably, is the health system
of all countries and which forces the staff involved – doctors, nurses and
hospital support figures – to exhausting and horrendously tiring shifts, in a
terrifying challenge for the purpose of saving lives. In Italy
– although the measure was initially ridiculed by other countries – the
decision was even to lock down the whole country, by imposing severe, yet
simple, preventive measures on the population, such as staying home with the
aim of limiting the infection. This measure, certainly drastic, together with
health and preventive measures adopted in Italy, are now also followed by other
countries and referred to as the Italian model. The decision of forcing
people to stay at home and not to go out, except for proven needs, inevitably
involves a social and economic disruption. In short, very heavy damage for
the whole country in every area of social, productive and economic life.
The ban on leaving the house and, not least, avoiding gatherings of people,
inevitably leads to the shut down of those commercial and productive activities
which are based, in fact, on people's social and recreational behavior. These
measures have in fact forced the shutting down of cinemas, theaters,
restaurants, wine bars, bars and most of the commercial activities considered
as non-essential. The economic consequences are frighteningly huge and, of
course, the effects caused by these measures will continue even when this
emergency is over. The shutting down of a specific commercial or production
activity has a direct impact on all the others which depends on it: a virtually
endless chain involving everyone. The economic consequences are – and will
be – enormous, something affecting everyone, no one excluded, including
(and perhaps above all) those who believe the economy to be a negative, even
worse, deleterious, expression of society.
The health of people undeniably comes first and before of everything else, it
is a collective value for the benefit of all. The lack of the good state of
health of a society evidently does not allow the development or well-being, of
any kind, including the economic one, of the whole country. In this regard,
being Italian, I am certainly proud of the health system of my country, capable
of ensuring and guaranteeing anyone the possibility of being treated and
assisted, regardless of their social or economic condition. It is, without a
shadow of a doubt, a magnificent, supreme and undeniable sign of civilization.
All this, of course, has a cost and its sustainability also depends on the
economic health of the country. Forcing the population to stay at home means
limiting both productivity and consumption, consequences affecting all the
productive and economic sectors of the country, including wine. A shut down
restaurant, for example, does not sell wine and therefore those who produce it,
that is wineries, do not sell it either.
The world of wine, however, is not only that of sales, although it is
– evidently – the goal of every producer. In fact, it also includes events,
fairs, tourism and, of course, customers who buy wine, such as restaurants,
wine shops and bars. The current condition has already forced the organizers of
event and fairs dedicated to wine to cancel or postpone the dates. Tourism, not
only the one about food and wine, is, in this period, practically non-existent,
wineries have seen a drastic decrease in orders, sales have collapsed. All this
introduces significant and important economic critical issues, certainly not
trivial, the results of them, probably, will continue even after 2020. Every
business and production activity, understandably, are trying to adopt measures
in order to limit – as far as possible – the damage caused by the economic
loss, therefore by the lower profit and the inevitable maintenance of costs.
Apparently, many wineries are trying to limit the effects of the drop in sales
of this period by directly targeting private customers, especially through
e-commerce. In terms of quantity and volume, it is certainly not like selling
to restaurants and wine bars, however – so to speak – it is of course better
than nothing. As if this was not enough, wineries are also facing a sharp and
significant drop in export sales, a frequently fundamental share in the balance
of many Italian producers. These definitely are difficult times which
consequences, too easy to predict, will have a substantial effect for a long
time. Indeed, it is difficult to predict now the real extent of both losses and
the possibility of recovery, by also considering the production and trade of
wine represent an important part of the Italian economy.
Because if it is true the effects of this pandemic are already tangible and
devastating at this time, the consequences on a social and economic level will
only be determinable in a still uncertain future, not only for the world of
wine. Here in Italy we keep on telling ourselves everything will be all
right. I also believe everything will be all right, especially for the fact
it must be and will be all right, although I am also convinced the price to pay
– in human, health, social, economic and productive terms – will be enormous.
In the end, when everything will just be a bad memory – that we must however
not forget – we will get up on our feet and resume our journey while looking
ahead. We owe it to ourselves and to those who are personally committed in
doing everything possible to overcome this difficult period – especially in
hospitals – for the good, health and interest of all of us, none excluded. We
owe it, in particular, to our Country, to all those who will no longer be with
us and that we have lost because of this pandemic. That day, our toast, with
our wine and by raising high the glass, will also be, and above all, for them.
Antonello Biancalana
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