Callipari Wines vineyard destroyed by floods

Floods have destroyed a popular vineyard in Mildura, with 98 per cent of the property underwater and more than $200k of wine lost.

More than 98 per cent of a popular vineyard has been destroyed as floods wreak havoc on Mildura.

Callipari Wines is one of the many estates on the Murray River feeling the effects of Victoria’s flood disaster.

Owner Joe Callipari said more than 98 per cent of the current crop had been destroyed.

“It’s very bad at our property, probably 98 per cent of the land will be written off,” he said.

“Obviously the plants don’t like to be drowned … and the floodwater is going to be here until probably December.”

Although the Callipari’s property is relatively small, the financial impacts will be devastating, he said.

Joe Callipari’s family farm has been destroyed by flooding. Picture: Supplied

“We’ve got around 40 hectares … There is about 500 vines a hectare so around 20,000 vines,” he said.

“We’ve lost probably around $200,000 a year.”

Widespread floods have destroyed crops. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Callipari said while it was possible the farm could be restored, the likelihood of the Murray flooding again meant the family would probably give up on grape growing.

“Even just to start up again would be a significant cost … given the Murray is likely going to flood again next year,” he said.

“Looking into the future we might cultivate cattle, that way when the Murray floods again we can at least move our products.”

But it may only be the start of the bad news for the region as the Murray River at Mildura still isn’t set to peak until December 1 or 2, according to SES incident controller Alistair Brayton.

“Currently we still on track to see the peak around Thursday or Friday, although the thing to note is that it will sick around for a while,” he said.

“It’s possible that we could still have areas effect until the new year.”

There are major road closures across Nichols Point, making both the cemetery and racecourse inaccessible to the public.

“We know that the racecourse has been flood effected but I can say confidently that the cemetery will not be” Mr Brayton said.

“It’s positioned quite well on a grass hill, so it should be unaffected.”