In a release sent to the drinks business yesterday, the decision by organiser Veronafiere to “postpone” Italy’s major national wine fair to next year was described as “painful” but “compulsory” due to the pandemic, with the country now entering a third lockdown due to the virus.

However, Veronafiere said that its Operawine event would be going ahead on 19-20 June, with the attendance confirmed by Wine Spectator, while the fair organiser also outlined a programme of initiatives from this month to October “to promote the recovery on national and international markets”.