South Australians turning to local wine, beer during shutdown
While pubs, bars and restaurants remain in hibernation, South Australians are stocking up on the state’s best known and much loved beer and wine brands.
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South Australians are a parochial bunch and when it comes to drinking at home, it appears a greater number are turning to the state’s best-known and much loved local brands.
Fears that bottle shops would be affected by the nationwide shutdown drove a spike in sales at the end of March, but operators say trade has since returned to normal.
However, a common trend that has emerged in recent weeks is stronger demand for mainstream beer and wines produced locally in South Australia.
A Dan Murphy’s spokeswoman said customers were gravitating towards brands they were familiar while facing the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.
“South Australia has always been a highly parochial state, but we have seen an even stronger movement to local products over the last few weeks,” she said.
“Adelaide Hills wines have been a favourite of our customers, which is very encouraging given the challenges local wineries faced with bushfires last summer.
“We have also seen a significant increase in sales through Direct from Supplier – the Dan Murphy’s online marketplace where customers can buy direct from suppliers – which is another example of customers wanting to support local producers at this time.”
Last week a YouGov poll commissioned by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education found one in five respondents are drinking more booze since the shutdown measures were introduced, and one third are consuming it every day.
At the start of this month, outlets including Liquorland, Vintage Cellars, Dan Murphy’s and BWS put limits on the amount of liquor customers can buy in one transaction, in a bid to prevent panic buying.
SipnSave general manager SA/NT Simon Rowe said many customers stocked up in the early days of the shutdown, and that had been followed by a dip in purchases since Easter.
“People weren’t buying six packs or four packs, they were buying cartons and they were buying brands they know and trust rather than being experimental,” he said.
“But at this stage it’s looking like it will be our worst April in four years if things keep going as they are this month.
“For alcohol consumption to be high you need a lot of social interaction. A couple stuck at home might share a bottle of wine over dinner, but if you had three couples at a dinner party they might drink five bottles between then and we’re not seeing that.”
Independent Brands Australia business manager Todd Winstanley, who oversees the Thirsty Camel and Cellarbrations networks in South Australia, said online sales had taken off since the shutdown.
“Everyone’s got more time, they’ve become more savvy and they’re buying the best products at the best price online,” he said.
“All your mainstream beers are doing really well but craft beer has really suffered, mostly because of the high cost.
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“High end table wine has probably fallen away as well – everyone’s gone back to the $10 to $15 dollar bottle, reasonable value for self-consumption.
“Varietals haven’t really changed – shiraz and sauvignon blanc are continuing to lead the charge.
“I think everyone thinks there’s been a massive spike in sales but if you looked at the numbers it might be a 3 to 5 per cent increase.”
Dion Mignone, of Athelstone, said he was supporting the local economy by backing local producers.
“Obviously with pubs, bars and restaurants closing down, we’re really missing socialising and having a drink with friends on weekends,” he said.
“I’m probably drinking a little bit more at home than I normally would, sharing a bottle of wine with family or having a beer.
“With local producers doing it really tough at the moment, I have been more conscious about where the beer and wine I am purchasing is coming from, trying to stick to brands that are local.”