The first Homeless Grapes Project started in 2015 with one little Facebook post. Jock Harvey, from Chalk Hill Wines, posted that he had a surplus block of grapes and anyone was welcome to them if they made a donation to charity. We saw an opportunity: why not make a cheeky little shiraz instead and send 100% of the profits to charity? We contacted Jock, and the rest - as they say in the biz - took loads of hard work but was totally worth it.

Three hours later, we had pickers, tractors, a winemaker, barrels, bottles and labels all lined up. The whole community came together to make the wine a reality, and the Homeless Grapes Project was born.

The Homeless Grapes Project -

Yarra Valley 2019

This year we’re picking grapes and making wine in the Yarra Valley, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale and Hunter Valley - the idea being that each pick supports a local homelessness issue. All proceeds from the Yarra Valley white will go to St Mary’s House of Welcome. They’re an amazing bunch, providing a vital safe space for Melbourne’s homeless right in the heart of Fitzroy. They have an open door policy, and work with people who have been excluded from other services, have complex problems, are isolated and are most at risk of falling through the gaps, providing everything from daily meals and showers, to optometry and haircuts.

The Partners

Though we have the absolute honour of selling the finished product, we can’t take responsibility for this vino. This is a community effort for community gain, from the winemakers doing the hard yards to our designer working on the label, to the volunteer mofos out picking grapes. Everyone played or will play a part in this and we give thanks to you all.

But extra special thanks go to the makers and growers of the Yarra, TarraWarra Estate and Rob Dolan. Also...

You

Yeah, you. You who jumped out of bed without much notice (hello fickle nature, we’re looking at you) and headed to a vineyard to spend some time with these homeless grapes. You who bought a case of a previous vintage and helped us do some good. You who shared that wine with friends and spread the message of Homeless Grapes. You, who upon reading this, will buy a case of this vintage and help make a difference. You, beautiful mofo, who is out there contributing to a better world.

The Wine

We’re selling the wine for $25 a bottle, which will be great value for a delicious Yarra Valley chardy. A lot of love will go into the making of this wine, not to mention how good we’re all going to feel about being involved, as your money will be going straight to St Mary’s House of Welcome.