How wine fared in Covid-19 – Wine Intelligence report

The frequency of wine consumption here increased during the pandemic, mostly driven by Generation X consumers (aged 40-54) and those highly involved with wine, finds UK research company Wine Intelligence in its Ireland: Covid-19 Impact Data Table for July 2020.

 

However spend per bottle was down.

Built using data collected during March and April 2020, this Data Table includes WI’s latest insights on pre-, during and predicted post-lockdown behaviour in Ireland.

The weekly wine researcher looks at how Irish consumers’ social, shopping, drinking and wine lives have – and will be – changed.

Wine Intelligence looked at the average number of wine-drinking occasions per month among Irish wine drinkers. This turned out to be a figure of 8.1 occasions in October 2019 falling to 8.0 in March/April 2020 ‘pre-virus behaviour’, rising to 8.4 during ‘lockdown’ in March/April.

“Whilst consumers are buying less often from independent wine merchants, there was an increase in frequency of purchasing wine online,” it found, “Spend per bottle decreased for all occasions during lockdown, but especially with an informal meal at home.”

It found that regular wine drinkers buying wine as a gift for somebody spent 2.1% less on it while those buying it as a relaxing drink at home at the end of the day spent 14.3% less and those having it with an informal meal at home spent 16.8% less.

“Irish wine drinkers will continue to go to restaurants, pubs and bars post-pandemic” states WI, “however they remain cautious about other social activities.”

It found that 30% of regular wine drinkers are more likely to go out to a pub or bar when the danger of Coronavirus has passed and normal activities are permitted but 31% were less likely to do this.

It found too that 33% would be more likely to go out to a restaurant but 29% would be less likely to do this.

34% would be less likely to host a party or social event at home while 21% would be more likely to do this and 31% would be less likely to go to a party or social event while 27% would be more likely to do this. Only 14% would be more likely to host a party or celebration themselves in a restaurant, bar or hotel while 36% would be less likely to do so.

WI’s data table also indicates that Irish wine drinkers plan on saving more in the future whilst travelling less for business. Some plan to “treat myself to better quality wine”.

The data was collected in March and April 2020.

The complete Ireland Covid-19 Data Table is available from Wine Intelligence.