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Wine industry donates finest drops for flood relief

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Brisbane-based vino enthusiast Tyson Stelzer discovered first hand that there are no sour grapes when it comes to supporting flood victims.

Three hundred vineyards and wineries — some of whom have lost entire crops — donated more than $240,000 in exclusive wine, memberships, books and travel packages to the Australian Wine Trade Flood Relief Raffle last month, so that you can now buy raffle tickets. The goal is to raise $1 million for flood victims in Queensland and Victoria.

Two hundred ridrunkulous prizes are on offer — with nary a Fruity Lexia in sight — including three boxes of Wild Duck Creek Duck Muck Shiraz 2007 valued at $1,320 each, six double magnums of Cullen Diana Madeline 2007 valued at $500 each and an imperial of Kalleske Eduard Shiraz 2008 retailing at $900.

Stelzer, a wine writer and author, launched the initiative with support from online guide VisitVineyards.com. Wine has been donated from Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

“It hasn’t been an easy year, as winemakers face widespread crop damage due to mildew and disease from the humidity, let alone direct damage to vineyards from rain and floods,” Stelzer said.

Jason Kaeser, owner of Kaeserberg Vineyard and Winery on the Lockyer Creek, was one of the first people to donate, despite losing most of his crop.

“It is absolutely devastating, but it’s phenomenal that everyone has chipped in, and people you don’t know are coming up to you and offering to help out, it restores your faith in humanity,” he said.

Mount Avoca Winery director, Matthew Barry, advises wine lovers to lend a hand by getting their drink on.

“Taking a visit and purchasing wines at cellar door can really make a difference to smaller vineyards. It will help ensure they survive and without that, the future is grim.”

We’ll drink to that.

Tickets for the Wine Trade Flood Relief Raffle are $30 and can be purchased from www.winefloodrelief.com.au from February 4 with the raffle drawn on 11 March.