Graft Wine to hold dinner in support of Adelaide Hills

UK wine importer Graft Wine is holding a fund-raising dinner for the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Fire Appeal at Portland in London later this month.

Vinteloper founder David Bowley in the vineyard after the fire

The dinner – with a special menu created by Portland – will be paired with rare older vintages of Vinteloper, an Adelaide Hills producer Graft represents in the UK and which saw its new winery and many vines razed to the ground in the terrible fires that raged in the area before Christmas.

Nik Darlington, co-director of Graft, told the drinks business that although Vinteloper’s wines would be front and centre during the evening: “The dinner is twofold really, more generally to raise awareness of the plight of wine producers not just in the Adelaide Hills but across the country, and specifically to raise funds for the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Fire Appeal. This is the official fundraising scheme for growers in the Adelaide Hills.”

Only 14 places are available in total and several spots have already been taken. The cover price is £195 per person and all proceeds from the evening will go towards the Adelaide Hills wine Region Fire Appeal.

As for Vinteloper, Darlington continued: “Vinteloper has been overwhelmed by the support that’s come their way since the Cudlee Creek bushfire. It has given a great boost to David and the rest of the team, as they were at absolute rock bottom in the aftermath of the fire. They are resolved to rebuild and come back stronger for the experience, but it will take several years to revive what’s been lost.”

Anyone wishing to attend should email Graft at hello@graftwine.co.uk