Kangaroo Island Bushfires

Tragically, in December 2019, the grower vineyard for our esteemed Kangaroo Island Shiraz was destroyed in the bushfires that devastated the island. For those who have had the pleasure of tasting this wine, you can understand what a devastating loss this was. This was our chance to support our friends on KI but to also give back to an island that has given us so much.

Our Bushfire Fundraising dinner held in January was an incredible success. We received an overwhelming amount of support with tickets selling out in days and many suppliers generously donating produce. Fabian Lehmann and his team put together a 6 course Australian feast featuring classics with a Maxwell twist. The night then ramped up when our auction got into full swing and everything from Maxwell magnums to overnight stays on KI were up for grabs. Our fundraiser raised over $30,000 for small businesses who had been directly affected by the KI bushfires. One of those charities was SAVEM. Below is an overview from SAVEM on how your contributions have helped our beloved KI wildlife.

Two-thirds of the Island burned out of control for 22 days. Vast numbers of livestock were lost. Wildlife losses were shocking - early estimates ranged from between 50 and 70 per cent lost. SAVEM’s pro-bono veterinary effort was valued at about $300,000.00 and the cost of our consumables for that period was just north of $160K - a significant portion of which was purchased on the Island to support the local economy. Maxwell Wines’ donation has contributed significantly to meeting our consumables costs. 

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success.