How can I help?
The start to 2020 has been a difficult one for individuals, businesses and communities affected by fires across Australia.
While the actual footprint of affected vineyards is less than one per cent of Australia’s total vineyard area of more than 146,000 hectares, we think of those who have been effected by the bushfires.
While there are still challenging months ahead, the best way you can help is to visit our wine regions and buy an Australian wine.
Donations
National
Salvation Army Disaster Appeal
WWF Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund
New South Wales
WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.)
Queensland
Granite Belt Drought Assistance via Facebook
Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland (RFBAQ)
South Australia
Kangaroo Island Mayor’s Relief Fund (endorsed by SA Govt)
South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS)
Victoria
Bendigo Bank Bushfires Disaster Appeal (endorsed by Vic Govt)
Country Fire Authority Victoria (CFA)
Fundraising activities
Australia
The Margaret River community has banded together to run an online auction to support fire affected wine regions around Australia.
The auction is being facilitated by the Margaret River Wine Association with the support of the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association.
All funds will be donated to the Australian Red Cross Bushfire Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund and the regional causes recommended by Wine Australia and Australia Grape & Wine.
The auction commenced on 24 January 2020 closes on closes at 5pm (AWST) on 7 February 2020 and aims to raise $100,000. Unless indicated otherwise shipping within Australia is included. International bidders are asked to negotiate with the donation provider.
The Drinks Association and Hip Media will donate all profits from a 32 page Bush Fire special edition to the WWF Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund. The special edition will cover the effects of the fire and talk about positive ways the trade can support wine growers and makers. Any businesses wanting to align themselves to the initiative should contact [email protected] or 0410600075.
International
Canada
Toronto
Montecito Restaurant & By The Glass Montecito will donate a portion of sales on select by the glass and by the bottle Australian wines to the Australian Red Cross and the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Fire Appeal.
The Oxley Pub. $1 per glass and $5 per bottle of Australian wine sold will be donated to the Australian Red Cross.
Peter Pan Bistro will donate $1 from every glass of Jim Barry Watervale Riesling sold to Wires Wildlife rescue.
St Regis Hotel Toronto will be donating 15 per cent of all Australian wine sales to the Australian Red Cross.
Thirsty and Curious Tasting Event is a festival-style Australian wine tasting on 20 February 2020 at Montecito Restaurant in Toronto that will support the Australian Red Cross and the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Fire Appeal.
Vancouver
Cascade Room in Vancouver are donating two dollars from every Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay or Shiraz ordered by the glass to raise money for WIRES, a wildlife rescue service in New South Wales. They are also donating two dollars from every Aussie Burger and one dollar from every Main Street Pilsner and Absolut vodka lemon-lime bitters cocktail sold.
Chambar is donating two dollars from each glass of Rieslingfreak No. 3 Clare Valley Riesling sold to Australian fire brigades.
Japan
Restaurant SAKE & WINE tono will donate 200yen from every glass of Australian wine.
The Winery Tokyo is running 'HELP Australia' fundraising event till the end of February 2020 and will be donating 500yen per bottle of Australian wine sales to the Australian Red Cross.
UK
Alliance Wine will be making a donation from sales of Thistledown wines sold in January and February 2020.
Wine bar and restaurant Bright is running a fundraising dinner on 10 February 2020 with a number of different chefs, a raffle and a silent auction.
Irish-American restaurant and bar Darby’s in London will donate £1 from every glass or £10 from every bottle of Vinterloper Touriga Nacional sold.
Elliot’s Wine bar and restaurant in London’s Borough Market is collecting donations from customers, which they will be matching.
Wine merchant Hennings will be making a donation from ticket sales of their Matthew Jukes 100 Best event in March 2020.
Australian café Lantana in London will collect donations from diners in January and February 2020.
Lea & Sandeman (shops, website and on-trade) will be donating £1 of every bottle of Australian wine sold to charities WIRES & the Australian Red Cross until 21 March.
Pacific London is collecting donations from diners in January and February 2020.
Wine merchant Roberson Wine is donating 10% of their Australian wine sales to the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Fire Appeal.
The Laughing Heart wine bar and restaurant in London will be making donations from glasses and bottles of Australian wine sold.
Three Test Match Series. A series of three ‘Test Match’ challenges involving Miles Corish MW of Milestone Wines and Richard Kelley MW of Dreyfus Ashby UK. The tests are in Cheshire (4 March), Yorkshire (5 March 2020) and London (11 March 2020).
USA
New York
Webber Restaurant Group, Massachusets (Bancroft & Co., Gibbet Hill Grill, The Bancroft) 10 per cent of all Australian Wine Sales donated to Australian Red Cross Disaster Recovery and Relief.
San Francisco, Redwood City and Hollywood
A Story in Union in San Francisco are holding an Australian Bushfire Relief fundraiser on Saturday 29 February 2020, with proceeds raised going to WIRES and the NSW Rural Fire Service.
