Queensland’s wine industry calls for stronger action on climate change after horror season of hail, flood and fire

When catastrophic hail storms lashed south-east Queensland earlier this month, Sirromet’s Mt Cotton vineyards were hit hard.

The property, nestled in the Redlands area south-east of Brisbane, was pummelled with golf ball-sized hailstones that stripped vines and destroyed 70 per cent of the crops.

Sirromet’s chief winemaker, Mike Hayes, said the damage bill totalled $250,000.

“It’s devastating to say the least,” he said.