Victoria Wildfires Devastate Wineries, Vineyards, and Wine Stock

Australia’s wine community is reeling after fast-moving bushfires tore through parts of Victoria, hitting vineyards, families, and cellars across multiple regions. It’s the kind of news that makes you pause before pulling a cork—because behind every bottle is a person and a place, and both just took a gut punch.

According to Wine-Searcher, at least 25 wineries have been directly affected, with more than 300 acres of vineyard damaged and an estimated quarter of a million bottles—much of it museum stock—lost in a destroyed cool store. That’s not just inventory; it’s identity.

“.” Regional chair Dan Sims told Wine-Searcher that visiting the area was “horrific,” adding that in some blocks there were “no vines, no posts, no wires – nothing.” Sims also underscored the cultural loss: “What

What was lost—and where

The Longwood bushfire ravaged parts of the Strathbogie Ranges, a high-country, granite-laced region known for cool-climate styles—think citrusy Chardonnay, fragrant Riesling, and pepper-spiced Shiraz. Winemaker Matt Fowles (Fowles Wine) fought to save his winery and home, but the flames returned with force. In his words to Wine-Searcher: “I thought ‘this isn’t good’.”

Regional chair Dan Sims told Wine-Searcher that visiting the area was “horrific,” adding that in some blocks there were “no vines, no posts, no wires – nothing.” Sims also underscored the cultural loss: “What’s particularly heartbreaking is that a lot of this was museum stock.” Those are the back-vintage bottles producers use to tell their story—benchmarks for winemaking decisions, windows into seasons past, and the backbone of serious tastings.

A second fire, the Ravenswood South blaze, also ripped through the town of Harcourt, destroying a cool store and impacting wines from Bendigo and the Macedon Ranges—two very different Victorian expressions. Bendigo tends to run warmer, celebrated for structured Shiraz and Cabernet; Macedon is one of Australia’s coolest mainland regions, home turf for nervy Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Different climates, same heartbreak.

What this means for the 2026 harvest

There’s a sliver of cautious hope on smoke taint. As Sims told Wine-Searcher, much of the region hadn’t reached veraison yet. In general, smoke risk is most severe from veraison through harvest, when grapes are more absorbent. That timing may blunt some damage to the 2026 vintage—but it won’t help vineyards and families who’ve lost vines, homes, or livelihoods. Replanting and rebuilding take years, not months.

And then there’s the human toll. This isn’t just scorched trellises; it’s a community stretched thin, with volunteers and winemakers pulling double duty. The ABC described the Harcourt aftermath with grim clarity: “Melted sheets of aluminium drape like cloth,” as “broken bottles spill out onto blackened earth.” It’s hard to read, harder to live through.

How to help—today and over time

This part is simple and not-so-simple. Simple, because the top two moves are clear: buy wine and be patient. As Sims urged via Wine-Searcher: “Buy direct, if you can.” If the cellar door is open and it’s safe to travel, go—later. A cellar-door visit can be the difference between red ink and survival for small producers, but don’t rush in while recovery crews are working. Consider gift cards, mixed cases, and sign-ups for wine clubs that support steady cash flow.

Not in the market for a case? Spread the word about the affected regions and producers; amplify fundraisers vetted by local authorities; and check Wine Victoria’s updates for needs on the ground. Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint—especially with infrastructure loss and supply chain hiccups ahead.

Context: Victoria’s diversity, resilience, and the long road back

Victoria is a mosaic of microclimates: cool Macedon elegance, Yarra Valley precision, Strathbogie’s high-altitude snap, Bendigo’s warmer swagger. That diversity is the state’s strength—and a source of resilience as producers blend purchased fruit, adjust styles, and lean on their networks to keep bottles flowing. We’ve seen this before after Black Saturday and other fire seasons: the community rallies, the work is grueling, and the wines keep telling the story.

For drinkers, now’s the moment to broaden the bench. If your go-to Victorian bottle is off the shelf for a while, look to neighboring regions and support the same producers in different cuvées. Keep an eye out for smoke research updates and vintage notes as the season progresses; transparency is a hallmark of good producers, and they’ll tell you what they faced.

Best occasion: A gathering where you can pour Victorian wines, toast the people behind them, and pass the hat for relief efforts.

Best pairing direction: Lean into comforting, shareable fare—grilled meats for Shiraz, roast chicken for Chardonnay, mushroom pasta for Pinot. Keep the table warm and the conversation open.

Bottom line: the losses are real, the recovery will be long, and the most helpful thing many of us can do is also the most enjoyable—keep buying and drinking these wines, on purpose. The bottles that remain matter more than ever.

“Buy direct, if you can,” said Dan Sims to Wine-Searcher.

Source: https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/01/wildfires-rip-through-victoria-wine-country?rss=Y