Wine producers in the Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria districts have been affected by the fires, writes Wine Enthusiast. Some vineyards are completely destroyed. Others have received large parts of their harvest smoke-damaged or damaged by the heat.
One of the best-selling Australian wine brands at Systembolaget is Jacobs Creek, which is manufactured by Pernod Ricard. According to Pernod Ricard Sweden's marketing manager Micke Trygg, some vineyards that they cooperate with have been damaged in the fires.
- In an area called Adelaide Hills, five farms growing our grapes have become quite heavily affected. There we are now trying to help rebuild the crops, he tells TT.
Adelaide Hills hit hardMore than 60 growers and producers in the Adelaide Hills have been affected by the fires. Several of them are grape growers who sell their fruit to different vineyards.
- When I visited the vineyard after the fire, I was so shocked. It took days to process what had happened, says James Tilbrook, owner of the Tilbrook Estate Vineyard in Lobethal, located in the middle of the region, to Wine Enthusiast.
90 percent of the vineyard's crops have been destroyed along with sheds, equipment and wine storage.
According to the Australian grape growers' industry organization Australian Grape & Wine, vineyards of about 1,500 hectares are found in the fire-affected areas. It represents only one percent of the total wine growing area in the country, but can still be a severe blow to individual winemakers