After a disastrous summer of bushfires, smoke taint and drought, the coronavirus pandemic came as another blow to the region already facing a tough vintage.
The closure of cellar doors in the local region due to government restrictions to help stop the spread of COVID-19, meant no visitors numbers during Easter, a time when local wineries set themselves up financially for the winter.
Pfeiffer Wines were closed over Easter, a first in their 37-year history.
“It’s a bit different to have Easter with no cellar door. We have never been shut,” owner Chris Pfeiffer said.
“Usually, we only shut for three days a year, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday.”
While the coronavirus pandemic comes as a great disruption, many wineries around the district are adapting with wine and even food deliveries.
Chris Pfeiffer and his team are also adapting and remaining optimistic.
“This virus is making life a little bit more difficult, but we are not doom and gloom here. We are just dealing with the situation as it is.
“Our goal is to keep all our staff employed,” Mr Pfeiffer said.
Although Pfeiffer Wines have never faced a challenge like this, Mr Pfeiffer is appreciative that the region is working together to keep local industries strong.
“It seems as though the locals are trying to buck in and support local people too. Not just for wineries but for whatever else they can.”
Although tourism is at a standstill across the region, wine production and harvest have continued. Paul Squires, co-owner of Buller Wines and Winemakers of Rutherglen board member, says all staff are taking the necessary precautions.
“We have been operating with all appropriate staff working from home. However, our production staff are practising social distancing at work while harvest has been on,” Mr Squires said.
“We are in full swing from vintage. We have tanks being filled and wines fermenting and being made. None of that has changed.”
Unexpected challenges are standard for many seasoned winemakers. While local wineries face this new challenge, there is a silver lining for Buller Wines.
“At Buller’s, we are reasonably lucky that we have a fairly diversified business model with cellar door, export and domestic sales. Obviously, cellar door has been impacted significantly everywhere. That’s a real concern for the region,” Mr Squires said.
With uncertainty continuing to fall across the region’s wine industry, the Victorian Government’s recent announcement of the Wine Grape Testing Rebate offers some relief for local winemakers impacted by smoke taint earlier in the year.
The rebate offers up to $1,200 to Victorian wine grape growers who have been impacted by possible smoke exposure on grapes grown in the 2019-20 growing season.
“Our wine industry is vibrant, diverse and a vital part of our economy. That’s why we’re ensuring the industry has access to the support and advice it needs to be best placed for this year’s vintage,” Victorian Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes said.
While the local wine industry remains resilient, the triple whammy of bushfires, drought and coronavirus, means government packages will be essential for smaller wineries around the state.
According to Chief Executive of Australian Grape and Wine Tony Battaglene, it is predicted that a third of Australian wineries could be forced into closure.
“We’ve got 2600 wineries at the moment and 30 percent of that we could lose. There will be a large number of small operators that don’t come out the other side of this,” Mr Battaglene said.
Innovative measures such as the recent announcement of Winemakers of Rutherglen’s virtual Winery Walkabout combined with Chris Pfeiffer’s glass half full approach may be the key to local wineries surviving.
“It’s going to be a hard haul. This virus isn’t going to be over quickly. We have all got to try and do the best we can.
“Everybody has to pull the boat in the same direction. If the locals keep supporting us, that will be fantastic,” Mr Pfeiffer said.
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