Valley's Spirits Stand Tall
WineBiz - Daily Wine News
Roslyn Lanigan
February 18, 2009
YARRA Valley winemakers are urging visitors to return to the region after fires swept through several vineyards on February 7.
Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association president Tony Jordan said many wineries were concerned the public would stay away from the area, believing residents would want peace and quiet.
"Harvest has started at most wineries, they are operating normally and are open to visitors," Mr Jordan said.
"Much of the valley is unaffected and wineries are looking for support and hoping to welcome visitors."
Mr Jordan said about 100ha - about 3 per cent - of the Yarra Valley's 3000ha of vines had been damaged or destroyed by the fires.
A further 5 per cent was damaged by the extreme heat that preceded the fires.
Yarra Glen winemaker Tom Carson lost his entire 2ha crop.
"I would say 0.8-1ha is pretty badly burnt and what's not burnt is smoke-tainted," Mr Carson said.
A winemaker at Yabby Lake and Heathcote Estate wineries, Mr Carson planted his own vineyard, Serrat, near Yarra Glen in 2001.
He said the speed of the fire "would have put Usain Bolt to shame".
He and his wife, Nadege Sune, managed to save their home, thanks in part to a shiraz block adjacent to the house.
"We call it the 'sacrificial shiraz'," Mr Carson said. "It was planted in 2003 but we've only had one vintage from it.
"It has been eaten by birds, damaged by frost and now it's burnt."
Mr Carson said he was hopeful most of the vines, mainly pinot and shiraz, would recover.
"They're pretty hardy, so we're hoping for the best.
"I'd like to give them a drink to give them a fighting chance, but there's no rain coming and the irrigation infrastructure was burnt."
Damage to other Yarra Valley wineries varied from the loss of a few rows of grapes to complete demolition.
Roundstone winery and restaurant at Steels Creek was razed, while nearby Yarra Yarra is still working despite significant losses in the winery and vineyards.
Other wineries to report losses include Train Trak, Mandala, Punt Road, Immerse, Domain Chandon, De Bortoli and Foster's.
Mr Jordan said the southerly wind change during the fires prevented smoke from tainting grapes on other properties.
He said consumers should expect "good quality and adequate quantity" from this year's vintage.
Visitors to the area are advised to contact wineries and cellar doors to check for revised opening hours.