THE WINE MERCHANT. An independent magazine for independent retailers
Issue 88, February 2020
Dog of the Month: Bacchus The Wine Bank, Southwell
Inside number eight Vagabond’s latest branch opens in the City of London
Page 6
Solidarity with our Aussie friends Independents join in fundraising effort as wildfires threaten lives and livelihoods in NSW and Victoria
I
ndependent wine merchants are
getting behind fundraising campaigns to support the communities affected
by the wildfires in Australia, which
continue to rage across New South Wales and Victoria.
Although Wine Australia calculates that
the footprint of affected land is less than 1% of Australia’s total vineyard area of
more than 146,000ha, that will be little comfort to Vinteloper in Adelaide Hills,
which lost 95% of its vines to the fires as
well as its farmhouse.
people have lost their lives and as many as
Hills region.
lobby group Australian Grape & Wine,
It’s thought that the fires have wiped out
a third of wine production in the Adelaide Smoke damage is a cause for concern
even where fires have not been a direct
threat. The impact on the 2020 harvest is expected to be severe.
Despite some rainfall, the hot, dry and
unpredictable weather is hampering
efforts to control the fires. It is reported
that 2,000 homes have been destroyed, 25
a billion animals may have perished. Tony Battaglene, chief executive of industry
says that while it’s important to donate to emergency services, he is keen to stress
that the majority of Australia’s wineries are still open for business. “Australia is hurting from the fires. We need donations to the relief funds, support for our emergency
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