The Wine Merchant issue 88 (February 2020)

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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

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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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