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The German Wine Institute (DWI) in Bodenheim is comprehensively supporting the helpers of the flood disaster on the Ahr. According to the DWI, it has become the central contact point for media representatives and experts from Germany and abroad. For example, many enquiries about the viticulture-specific situation on the Ahr were answered from Bodenheim, as communication on site had broken down. Together with winegrowers from other winegrowing regions, DWI employees travelled to the devastated wine villages for several days to help.
In addition, the German Wine Institute had called on its 14 foreign representatives to report on the damage in the Ahr and to call for donations. For this purpose, an account has been set up for transfers from third countries, for which the Volksbank Mainz waives all transaction fees. This ensures that the donations reach those in need in full. The DWI's US representation has also launched the "We Ahr One" appeal for donations via the GoFundMe platform, which has already reached about 20,000 dollars.
Many wine merchants around the world have organised fundraising campaigns, partly on the DWI's initiative. In the Netherlands or Russia, tastings with German and especially Ahr wines are currently being organised together with importers and sommelier associations, and the entrance fees are being donated. The Russian DWI representation had organised a flash mob under the hashtag "WeAhrTogether", in which 60 wine merchants or sommeliers from all over the country expressed their solidarity with the flood victims. Many of the DWI's foreign agencies had also donated themselves.
The DWI also directly supports the "SolidAHRität" campaign of the Rhine-Hessian vintner Dirk Würtz (St. Antony). In the meantime, hundreds of winegrowers from Germany and Europe have donated well over 100,000 bottles of wine, which the volunteer team of hundreds sends out as surprise packages of 6 for 65 euros each. In order to ensure the logistics on site, the DWI has arranged for a hall in Bodenheim that can be used free of charge and has also sought sponsors. DWI employees also help to pack the wine donations. The DWI, as well as the Messe Düsseldorf as Prowein organiser and the IC-Haus in Bodenheim, have agreed to pay part of the shipping costs.
(uka - Source: Press release / Photo: DWI - Christian Lipowski)