Winemaker’s fight against weather
GRANITE BELT wineries continue to fight back against the tide of despair brought on by a series of varied weather events.
If the drought wasn’t enough, hail late last week battered wineries in the Ballandean area.
Sirromet Wines lost up to 70 per cent on two blocks.
Despite the constant hurdles, the Queensland wine giant is confident of financial growth going forward.
With news that Australia’s sixth largest wine company, McWilliam’s Wines, had been forced into voluntary administration last week, Sirromet’s growth is a positive for an industry doing it tough.
“It’s so sad to hear about McWilliam’s because they are one of the foundation, large companies of the country in wine, when Australia began wine,” Sirromet’s director of viticulture and chief winemaker Mike Hayes said.
“It’s 141 years gone. I’m not sure what happened there. It’s getting harder and harder to make a dollar. There’s a lot of competition in around that top end. Probably a combination of the drought hasn’t helped.”
For Mr Hayes and Sirromet, it has been a case of adapting to a shifting industry.
“You’ve got to change. If you don’t change you’ll perish,” he said. “We’re faring very well. Sales are exceptionally strong – especially over Christmas and into the New Year break sales were good.
“Visitation to the winery is increasing every year and exports are maintaining a steady rate.”
But after a 12 months to forget, Mr Hayes said he felt for smaller wine producers.
“I fear for some of the drought conditions for some of the younger producers and smaller producers here,” he said.
“They can’t really afford to lose a vintage. I know a few of the cellar doors have said they’ve been deathly quiet.
“What we’ve got to try and do is be collegiate and stick together and unite and we’ll get through this.”