Fire be Damned: Alpha Box & Dice Cellar Door To Reopen Post-Haste

The popular McLaren Vale winery announced through its social media channels that the cellar door will be open from Saturday, December 10 and that they were “stoked” to be able to return to business so quickly.

“We’re still getting back on our feet, so only groups of five or less for this weekend please – we’ll be back to taking group bookings for up to 15 people again from next Saturday December 17,” Alpha Box and Dice said on Facebook.

The fire at Alpha Box & Dice shocked locals and tourists alike last week when plumes of grey and black smoke billowed from a cellar door shed. Initially reported as having caused $400,000, the fire was caused by an electrical fault, but restricted to damaging only one building on the estate thanks to the work of fast-acting CFS and MFS fire fighters. No one was injured in the blaze.

Speaking with The Adelaide Review, Alpha Box & Dice Brand Manager Lachlan Aird affirms that the “fire was caused by an electrical fault in one of our stock rooms.”

“The fire spread through the stock room and into the office next door,” says Aird. “Luckily, we had cleared a lot of the stock that was normally in there for the weekend, except we did lose everything that was in there, as well as the office, which had some of out staff’s personal belongings in there too. Unfortunately, some of our most precious stock was stored in that room, so we’re mourning those irreplaceable, sentimental losses more than anything.”

Asked how the winery has been able to reopen their cellar door so quickly, Aird praises the work of local firefighters, and notes that the fire was speedily contained to one location.

“Luckily for us, the affected building isn’t connected to the Cellar Door where people come visit us for tastings, so after taking the necessary safety considerations, we can open again from this weekend,” says Aird. “We are taking it easy to begin with and are just taking small walk-in groups of five people and under for the moment, but will be able to take group bookings from next Saturday December 17.”

The Alpha Box & Dice team were also heartened by the community’s “incredible” reaction to the fire, and Aird says the response wasn’t just limited to Adelaide.

“The love people have shown for AB&D across social media from all over the world has been overwhelming and making it out to run a bar at Carclew’s Dusk Art Markets on Tuesday was great – everyone was sending their best and having a glass. The McLaren Vale winery community have been amazing too, offering pop-up tastings at their venues to lunches, coffees, hugs. Everyone has been so generous.”

alphaboxdice.com