The War And The Italian Wine Industry – Why You Don’t Need to Worry

Turning on the news is not a pleasant experience in this day and age. No sooner had we finally started to see some light at the end of the tunnel when it came to the end of the pandemic panic than we had to watch as Russia launched an offensive against Ukraine.

War is raging and the human cost is sure to be devastating.

As an Italian wine aficionado, you are obviously worried about the effects this conflict will have on the people of Ukraine and Europe as a whole. But you may also have some questions when it comes to your Italian wine. Will the conflict restrict production? Is it possible that the issues between Russia and Ukraine will lead to problems for the Italian wine supply chain?

These are the questions we aim to answer in this article as we examine the effects the war may have on the Italian wine industry.

Let’s Start With Production

When it comes to Italian wine production, you don’t have a thing to worry about. Every Italian wine is made in Italy, meaning none of the production is outsourced to any other country, including Russia or Ukraine. What’s more, the DOC ensures that every Italian wine is actually made where it’s supposed to be made. As a result, you don’t have to worry about any drops in production quantity or quality as a result of the conflict.

However, there will be obvious production issues in Ukraine.

Many don’t realise that Ukraine actually has a bustling and growing wine industry. Though the country is certainly not on the level of the European wine titans yet, it has made great strides in recent years to create a wine industry that is gaining respect.

Unfortunately, the conflict will affect the country’s wine production.

Producers have either evacuated or are actively taking part in the war effort, meaning their vines go uncared for. While this obviously means that we can expect very few, if any, wines to come out of Ukraine for as long as the conflict rages, it may also bode poorly for the future. Producers’ vines are going untended, which leaves them exposed to pests and other issues. That’s without factoring in the possibility that vineyards may get destroyed as part of the fighting.

Sadly, the Ukrainian wine industry’s immediate future looks bleak.

However, Italian wine enthusiasts don’t have to worry about any production or quality issues as a result of the conflict.

What About the Supply Chain?

It’s natural to worry about the supply chain given what we’re seeing with oil and gas as a result of the conflict. With many countries placing sanctions on Russia as a result of their aggression, average households have seen energy prices rise as supplies become more restricted. This is an example of a supply chain issue. A link in the chain gets broken and the consumer has to deal with the effects.

Thankfully, nothing like that will happen with Italian wine.

The Italian wine industry is very self-contained in the sense that every aspect of production is handled in Italy. This stretches from the growing of the vine through to the organization of the logistics needed to export Italian wines to the many countries that buy them. The Italian wine supply chain does not rely on any Ukrainian or Russian services, meaning you should find that wines can reach store shelves and consumer kitchens without any issues.

But again, this is a general overview.

Those in Russia and Ukraine will see supply chain issues because of the nature of their conflict. Many producers, and their logistical companies, will cease transporting Italian wines to these territories for as long as the conflict goes on. As such, consumers in those countries are likely to see supply chain issues that may not be resolved until several months after the end of the fighting.

The Wine Tourism Challenge

The Italian wine tourism trade has taken plenty of hits over the last few years.

The travel restrictions that came from the pandemic meant that producers couldn’t welcome people to their estates for a while. And now, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine may have further effects. Obviously, Italian wine producers aren’t going to see influxes of tourists from either country during the fighting, especially with some airlines placing travel restrictions on Russia as part of global sanctions.

However, we may also see a decline in wine tourism for the simple fact that people may feel wary about traveling to Europe during a time of conflict. This may happen even though Italy is not directly involved in the fighting.

Still, the effects the conflict may have on wine tourism are lessened by the fact that many producers have already adapted to a world where they can’t welcome tourists. During the pandemic, many producers implemented digital tourism platforms, such as virtual tours, to allow people to experience their estates without physically visiting them. These platforms still exist and are being built upon, allowing producers to offer viable alternatives to those who don’t want to visit Europe right now.

There’s also another point to make here.

Italy is not involved in the conflict and there is little, if any possibility, of the fighting reaching Italian borders. As such, those who do feel wary about traveling should know that they face no danger if they visit Italy.

Conflict Will Not Affect Italian Wine

The main message to take from this article is that the fighting between Ukraine and Russia will not have a pronounced effect on the Italian wine industry. While there may be some wine tourism issues, the production and supply of Italian wines do not rely on either country. That means you will still have the same level of access as you’ve always had. What’s more, you won’t need to worry about the quality of your Italian wines declining thanks to the DOC’s stringent measures.

All that’s left now is to get your hands on some Italian wine. That’s where Xtrawine can help as our extensive catalogue is tailored to ensure you can always find a wine that suits your needs.