WINEMAKERS across the Grampians region want to reassure they are surviving a tough growing season that has stretched into coronavirus restrictions on their livelihood.
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But they say the best way people can help them is to think local and buy direct.
In March, wineries in the Wimmera and Grampians regions made the tough decision to close their doors to the public to minimise the spread of COVID-19.
Wine Victoria chairman and Mount Langi Ghiran viticulturist Damian Sheehan said the effects on this year's harvest - no matter how good - would not likely be felt until some of these wines were released next year.
In the meantime, there was a lot of wine to sell in the region without being able to rely on the usual major sales channels.
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Mr Sheehan said cellar doors had always been able to operate a takeaway model, without tastings. After a cluster-like COVID-19 outbreak in South Australia's Barossa Valley, many wineries in Victoria opted to shut their doors in what was the middle of the vintage .
Now harvest was complete, Mr Sheehan said many wineries were re-opening their cellar doors but in regional Victoria travel restrictions amid the pandemic were forcing wineries to try every online platform they could.
A big part of any winery is enjoyment in life and sharing that enjoyment with others
- Andrew Koerner, Blue Pyrenees Estate
"Grampians winemakers are looking into what they can do and establish a platform together," Mr Sheehan said. "It's not necessary they have to do it alone."
Easter is usually a big sales time for Blue Pyrenees Estate in Avoca, particularly for wine club.
Blue Pyrenees chief executive Andrew Koerner said a stop in tourism, coupled with pubs and restaurants closing their doors, had been a hard blow - and was likely to have hurt the Pyrenees' smaller wineries more. His team's focus was on what they could do.
The Italian-made cross-flow filtration equipment arrived at Blue Pyrenees just in time for harvest, allowing greater recovery and improved quality recovery in processing.
They have tested this against their old filtration and Mr Koerner was confident was they did have from their small crop was far superior.
"We're really looking forward to getting back to normal and having visitors again," he said. "A big part of any winery is enjoyment in life and sharing that enjoyment with others."
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