Griffith winery rallies in pandemic crisis

When drought-stricken communities ran out of water, he loaded it into plastic wine bottles from his winery, Calabria Family Wines in Griffith, and trucked it 623km to Brewarrina.

Now due to COVID-19, Mr Calabria and his children are diverting their resources to help those vulnerable or elderly based in the Griffith region with a Calabria Family Care Box.

So far they have delivered 300 care packs filled with everyday necessities from pasta, rice, canned soup and canned fruit to tissues, toilet paper, sugar, tea, coffee and juice.

But the aim is to reach 2000 care packs in the coming months.

"We started from humble beginnings, my mother Elisabetta was the driving force always giving to others even when we didn't have anything ourselves," Mr Calabria said.

"Our business would not have survived without our growers or customers, you've been there for us, now it is our time to be there for you."

Related reading: Griffith winemaker donates water to Brewarrina 623km away

His son Andrew added: "It's devastating to see the toll the pandemic has had on the region especially for those heading to the shops finding it difficult or impossible to purchase the things they needs. The community has always been there for us, now it's our turn to return the favour."

The family wine company has also reallocated grape spirit resources destined for its Tawny and Muscat wines to create bulk hand sanitiser to be donated to the local health centres and hospitals.