Describing the situation as “urgent and imperative”, a spokesperson for the association said: “The continued rise in the prices of raw materials, bottling materials, transport and costs in general is pushing many small and medium-sized producers – which make up the majority of the business fabric of the wine industry -to the brink of bankruptcy.”
The association outlined a number of ways in which the government could provide assistance, including interest-free treasury support, assistance in the purchase of agricultural diesel, barrels and bottle stocks.
“Producers only managed to raise their selling prices by around 10%, so the overwhelming majority will show huge losses at the end of the year, if they manage to get there,” the statement continued.