Wine Institute, Napa Valley Vintners and Sonoma County Vintners - We Thank You

Support from afar

Impacts from Cyclone Gabrielle on New Zealand’s Northland, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and many of its citizens earlier this year were significant. In Hawkes Bay particularly the images of silt damaged vineyards, businesses and homes are difficult to erase. Many of us did what we could to help with the relief effort, whether it was sending money, buying wine or goods from the affected producers, or showing up with a wheelbarrow and spade to help, the response was immediate. The clean-up continues and for some it will take many months to see a return to working vineyards and businesses, some have gone for good. Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Charitable Trust Relief Fund has so far raised over $160,000. Trust Chair Alwyn Corban says, “We have been overwhelmed by the generous support of those from within and outside of the region and we are getting 100% of the donations out to those most affected”. News of the cyclone reached tv screens and social media channels in the USA fast, an email exchange I had with well-known wine writer and educator Elaine Chukan Brown, who resides in the USA, established that she had contacted the west-coast wine community to see if there was anything they could do to assist, and they did. Three separate entities rallied to donate dollars to the relief efforts. Wine Institute CEO and President Robert P. Koch announced the organisation’s US$10,000 contribution to the Hawke’s Bay Disaster Relief Fund. “New Zealand supported California’s wine regions through the difficulties of our 2017 wildfires. The global wine community is stronger together,” said Koch. Another US$10k donation has also been pledged by the Napa Valley Vintners Assn, “We are saddened by the crisis there, and offer our most sincere support to our colleagues and their community. Sadly, we understand too well the devastating immediate and long-term effects of a natural disaster.  Our hearts go out to everyone, and we humbled to be able to make a small difference with our donation”, says association President and CEO Linda J. Reiff. And from Michael Haney the Executive Director for Sonoma County Vintners and Foundation, “we are very happy to assist our friends in New Zealand who are going through so many challenges right now, we will be processing a disbursement from our Emergency Relief Fund to them”. Thank you to our wine friends in the USA, we are truly humbled by your generosity.