What is the UK up to when buying wine
The latest Nielsen data shows that lockdown drinkers are happy buying their wine online with a huge 78% surge in online purchases of beer, wines and spirits. But Brits also appear to be happy to buy wine locally, with convenience store sales up 9%.
Wineries who rely on cellar door sales have been hit hard by Covid-19. Simon Robinson, Chairman of Wine GB: “We’ve been hit pretty hard by Covid-19 and the lockdown, although as part of the agricultural sector we are permitted to continue some of our operations, compared to some other industries. Many have lost significant business through closure of cellar doors and tastings and of course the shutting down of the hospitality industry which is a major source of income for some.”
Wine GB, the marketing arm for English wine, has launched a series of online weekly socials #EnglishWineNight looking at each of the UK’s key wine regions. Last week the focus was Wales and this week at 7pm on Friday is Wessex. Wessex covers Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight.
Finally, English Wine Week and Welsh Wine Week has been rescheduled for this year – given the remaining uncertainty surrounding the lockdown in May and ongoing restrictions it has been moved to June, the new dates being Saturday 20 – Sunday 28 June.
