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ROME, April 26-- The global coronavirus outbreak is changing every aspect of Italy's wine sector, from production to sales to consumption, even the way vintners promote the wine they make. Most restaurants in Italy have been closed for weeks, since the national coronavirus lockdown was first put into place on March 10. The worldwide economic slowdown and restrictions on international transport have limited foreign markets. Data does show that direct wine sales to individuals have increased during the lockdown, but not nearly enough to balance out reduced restaurant sales and exports. "During the first three months of the year, I've seen indications that sales of Italian wine were around 20 percent lower than over the same period in 2019," Lorenzo Tersi, a veteran wine sector consultant, told Xinhua. "Keep in mind that the national lockdown didn't start until early March, near the end of that period," he said. "My estimate is that sales will be down by at least 40 percent in April, and May will probably be just as bad." Though Tersi's estimates are dramatic, they are still better than some international estimates. In its latest report, the International Organization of Vine and Wine, a Paris-based intergovernmental organization that focuses on viticulture and winemaking, estimated that wine sales and revenue for winemakers and distributors could be half normal levels for the year as a whole. | 
