Harris River Estate Winery have been working closely with the local Department of Parks and Wildlife during burn off season to ensure their grapes remain untainted by smoke.
Harris River Estate Winery general manager Julie Hillier said they were grateful for the regular contact between the business and DPAW in relation to upcoming planned burns.
“I think it’s just been a great example of small business and a government agency really working closely together, I think it’s just really worthwhile sharing how this community has worked really closely to overcome that delicate balance of protecting the community from fire but also taking into account the farming aspect as well,” she said.
“The smoke can taint the grapes, so we have worked closely with DPAW here in Collie, they’ve been speaking to us almost on a daily basis to tell us what’s happening, and looking at wind direction to make sure it doesn’t come here.”
“It’s just because it has been such a strange summer this year that we would have actually been finished harvesting five weeks ago, so we normally wouldn’t have had an issue because we finish harvesting then they (DPAW) start burning off.”
Wellington District- Collie Fire Coordinator for Department of Parks and Wildlife Kyle Hulls said this year had been unique as the burn offs don’t usually coincide with the final harvest.
“We have had a fair few burning opportunities that we’ve postponed due to the possible impact that it could have on local wineries, so that’s something we have been very mindful of at a local level and at a state level, that we want to minimise any impact that we have on local businesses,” he said.
“It’s really only in that last period, the Veraison period, where the skin of the grape is at its thinnest and it can take on that smoke and can taint the grape, then it can taint the wine.”
Mr Hulls said this year the Department took a proactive approach to burn offs to ensure local crops were not impacted.
“It was a lot more proactive rather than reactive, we were trying to get out there and have the discussions before any issues occurred,” he said.
