The situation that the country and the world is experiencing due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the state of emergency declared since the second week of March cannot be compared with any other moment that we have experienced. And no one knows the scale of the economic consequences for the world as a whole, for Portugal, companies, workers in all fields of activity.

The most popular white wine grape variety is chardonnay.

Concerned about the consequences that are already felt in cooperative wineries, FENADEGAS conducted a survey of all 80 cooperative wineries in the country.

Answers that indicate:

• 11% of the cellars are closed;

• 89% are open, although most alternate, and 35% have already joined the process of dismissing some of the workers;

• only 5% joined credit lines.

Regarding the forecast for the fall in average sales, we see the following:

• At the national level - 43.35%, mainly in the field of catering and distribution.

• At the international level - 47.45%, the vast majority of which are concentrated in Brazil, the USA, Canada, Russia, Spain and France.

• The forecast breakdown for the coming months is estimated at - 55%.

• Torrential rains caused serious damage to crops in Alicante and Murcia, which significantly reduced production volumes.
• The grape harvest in Central Otago must continue - wine producers are considered an important service, which means that Covid-19 will not stop the 2020 harvest.
• The Portuguese National Federation of Wine Cooperatives (FENADEGAS) is reinforcing the request for measures to support the wine sector.