Applications are now open for wine grape growers who had crops ruined by the summer bushfires to receive federal government grant money.
The $5 million grant program was announced by Agriculture Minister David Littleproud to assist the struggling sector after much of the country's wine crops were affected by smoke.
Growers in the ACT, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, whose vineyards are outside of the direct bushfire affected area, will be eligible for the grant if they can prove they experienced a 40 per cent drop in revenue or grapes harvested in a three-month period.
They can access up to 10,000 to cover wages, rent, utilities, equipment and other business costs.
Australian Grape & Wine chief executive Tony Battaglene said a large number of wine grape growers, while not directly impacted by fire, had their grapes rendered unusable for wine due to the impacts of smoke on grapes.
"Fire and the impacts of smoke will continue to have long term impacts on viticulture in Australia," Mr Battaglene said.
"The grant program is welcomed as it will assist growers, in some measure, to survive in a very difficult year. The value that the grape and wine sector provides to our exports, tourism and the social and economic health of regional Australia is huge."
Grapes exposed to smoke can absorb chemicals which during the fermenting phase break down and leave wine with an undesirable taste.
