As much as a third of region’s vineyard production may have been wiped out by fires in South Australia

This article is more than 8 months old

This article is more than 8 months old

Wine industry representatives say the fires that have burned through the Adelaide Hills have “smashed” grape growers and winemakers, and it will be years before many can recover.

Jared Stringer, vice-chair of the Adelaide Hills Wine Region industry association, says the fire has potentially wiped out a third of wine production in the area.

“We know 25,000 hectares have burned in this fire,” Stringer said. “There’s around 3,300 hectares in the Adelaide Hills under vine, with 1,100 in the fire burnout zone, which makes up one-third of total vineyard production.”

All told, Stringer said, grape production within the fire-affected area is worth $20m, which goes on to become 794,000 cases of wine.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Melted bottles at the Tilbrook Estate winery in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. Owners James and Annabelle Tilbrook fled their property as the Cudlee Creek blaze started to burn out of control on Friday. Photograph: James Tilbrook/Facebook

“That’s what’s potentially at risk,” he said. “It didn’t take long for that fire to rip through – you’re talking densely green, large canopies of vines here. You don’t expect them to burn easily, but the intensity of that fire, it just went right through these vineyards.

“This is devastating. This is going to have extraordinary effects on the Adelaide Hills region. Where this fire went through it is arguably one of the most agriculturally rich and productive in South Australia. The cost of this is going to be astronomical.”

It is understood the exact number of vineyards and wineries affected will not be known until local authorities have had a chance take stock.

“Heat, radiant heat damage, has wiped out a lot of crops, but we expect vines to recover from that if growers can rebuild their irrigation,” Stringer said. “If they can do that quickly, we’ll see them back quickly. Where they’ve been burnt quickly, it’s a complete rip out and restart.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Vines ruined by fire. Photograph: James Tilbrook/Tilbrook Estate

“That’s the other part of this that makes it more devastating, horticulture is not about just putting vines or trees in the ground and then waiting for a return. To get a commercial crop off a newly planted vineyard, to put this vineyard back in the ground and get it up and running, you’ve got incredible expenses.”

To help those worst affected, Stringer said, people are advised to stock up on Adelaide Hills produce over Christmas, as those wineries expecting visits will now end up with nothing.

On Tuesday the current tally for the number of livestock killed in the blaze was released.

Early surveys of the 537 properties within the area registered as having livestock present put the number of animals killed in the blaze at 2,700 as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA). This includes 2635 sheep, 139 cattle, 15 chickens, two alpacas and one horse.

In a statement, state controller for Agricultural and Animal Services, Mehdi Doroudi, said this number is expected to rise as the initial assessments are finalised.

Meanwhile, growers and winemakers have been taking to social media to share the heartbreak. Among those worst affected are Tilbrook Estate, Vinteloper, New Era Vineyards, Golding Estate, Barristers Block and Tomich Wines.

David Bowley of Vinteloper has already met with insurance assessors and says that though his winery has survived on a separate property, he is looking at a “total wipeout” of his vineyard.

“You have a frost, or you have a bad rain and it’s too wet, or you have disease, that’s one season gone,” Bowley said. “That’s what everyone thinks about. Then you have this. And the scale just dawns on you.

“I don’t want to understate the gravity of what has happened. A vineyard – to regrow a vineyard, it’s not just next year. This wipes out our crop for seven years, at least.”

Bowley said the support he had received since announcing the loss has blown him away and that he was determined to start over.

“I’m going to rebuild. I’m not giving up. That’s not how we roll.”