Winemakers in Italy want to convert their unsold stock into hand sanitising gel, which is in high demand amid the coronavirus pandemic. They have excess wine in their tanks after the country's long lockdown left restaurants and bars closed. Now, with the new harvest season approaching, they are keen to free up space and help ease shortages of sanitiser.

"I've been a winemaker here in Scandiano, Reggio-Emilia, for 30 years," said Davide Frascari, the president of Lambrusco Wine Consortium. "But I have never seen our tanks full at the end of May. Grapes are already visible and we have to take action."