Naked Wines’ customers save vandal-struck British winemaker

Customers of online retailer Naked Wines have come to the rescue of a French-based British winemaker who lost her white wine vintage to vandals.

Katie Jones in the vineyard

Katie Jones, who is based in the Languedoc area of Tuchan, lost the entire 2012 vintage of her Grenache Gris last month when vandals broke in and opened the tanks.

In support, Naked Wines’ customers pre-ordered 30,000 bottles of her wine in just 48 hours to help raise money for her to continue her winemaking.

A neighbouring winemaker was kind enough to let Jones select a parcel of Corbières for her to sell through Naked Wines in the meantime.

Jones moved from Leicestershire to the Languedoc 20 years ago and set up Domaine Jones. She now makes red and white wines from nine hectares of vineyard in Tuchan and Maury.

Jones said: “I am so grateful for this overwhelming show of support. When I lost my entire white vintage it was a disaster, but this funding will help us get back on our feet and come back with an absolutely outstanding 2013 wine.”

Eamon Fitzgerald from Naked Wines said that the customers’ support had been “phenomenal”.

“She’s a first class winemaker and deserves some help to get back in business. As ever, our customers have shown they really care about good wine and great winemakers,” he added.

The rise in winery vandalism has been growing of late, with a high profile case of vandalism hitting Italy and more recently Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand.