Quarter Million Bottles of Wine Lost as Wildfires Devastate Victoria Vineyards

Wildfires have swept through Victoria’s wine country in Australia, causing severe damage to vineyards, wineries, and homes. Over the past week, a series of bushfires have burned more than 300 acres of vineyard land and destroyed an estimated 250,000 bottles of wine held in library stock. At least 25 wineries across the state have been directly affected, with losses ranging from scorched vines and ruined wine collections to the destruction of family homes.

The Longwood bushfire in the Strathbogie Ranges, about 80 miles north of Melbourne, has been one of the most destructive. Matt Fowles, winemaker at Fowles Wine in Upton Hill, described his experience trying to save his property. Fowles was on vacation with his family when he learned about the approaching fire and returned home at 3 a.m. He arrived to find his property already burning and had to drive through flames to reach his house. Despite being a volunteer firefighter for 15 years and having fought during the Black Saturday fires in 2009, Fowles said this was the worst he had ever seen.

Fowles and his team spent hours battling the fire without outside help. As night fell and winds picked up, he realized they could not stop the blaze. His family convinced him by phone to leave for safety, and he later sought medical attention in Melbourne after coughing up blood from smoke inhalation. The fire destroyed his family home, most of their sheds, and killed 1,100 sheep on their 1,400-acre property.

Other wineries in the Strathbogie Ranges have also suffered heavy losses. Grant Taresch of Elgo Estate said their Upton Hill vineyard was devastated by the fire. Although their winery building survived, Taresch said it would be too difficult to recover and planned to close the business. Producers such as Wine by Sam and Antcliff Wines were also hit by the Longwood blaze.

The fires have not been limited to one area. Another major fire, known as the Ravenswood South blaze, tore through Harcourt, a town north of Melbourne. The fire destroyed a large cool store facility that housed wine for about 20 local wineries from Bendigo and Macedon Ranges regions. Dan Sims, chair of Wine Victoria, estimated that a quarter of a million bottles were lost in this single incident. Many of these bottles were museum stock—older vintages that represent years of work for small producers.

Sims described visiting the affected areas as “horrific,” with entire vineyards reduced to ash and no visible signs left of vines or trellises. He encouraged consumers to support local wineries by buying directly from them or visiting cellar doors once it is safe.

While immediate efforts are focused on supporting those affected by the fires, there is concern about long-term recovery. Some vineyards may need to be replanted entirely, which could take years before they produce fruit again. There is hope that smoke taint—a risk when grapes are exposed to wildfire smoke—may be less severe this year because many vineyards had not yet reached veraison, when grapes begin to ripen.

The fires have also taken a human toll. Livestock breeder Max Hobson died after being caught by flames near Seymour in central Victoria. Emergency funds are being distributed to those affected, with more aid expected from state and national sources.

Despite the devastation, stories of resilience have emerged. Fowles’ family horses survived after being set loose during the fire; remarkably, their chicken coop was untouched even though it stood close to the destroyed house. One family cat was found alive in the rubble by Fowles’ daughters.

Wine Victoria is urging those impacted by the fires to seek support from available organizations as recovery begins. The state’s Country Fire Authority continues to battle active fires across Victoria as communities assess losses and begin rebuilding efforts.