How the wine industry rallied to help a sick child

The wine industry is a fiercely competitive one, but also one in which everyone rallies around for a good cause.

When Archie, the five-year-old son of popular McLaren Vale winemaker Michael Fragos (Chapel Hill) and his wife Marianne, was diagnosed with desmoplastic small-round-cell tumor, a rare and very aggressive cancer, the local wine community responded, crafting a wine to raise funds for Archie's treatment.

Fellow Chapel Hill winemaker Bryn Richards made phone calls to seven local winemakers. Result: seven barrels of the best of their 2014 vintage were promised to help create a fund-raising blend. The Archibald was beginning to take shape.

The 2014 Archibald is a blend of grenache, shiraz, mourvèdre and tempranillo put together with assistance from Hardys Tintara, d’Arenberg, Wirra Wirra Wines, Samuel’s Gorge, Vinrock, SC Pannell, Hickinbotham Vineyards, Torresan Estate and Serafino Wines, among others.

Local artists, label designers and printers also chipped in, and Archie and his siblings sat down at the dinner table to work on their own masterpieces.

These art works have been converted into contemporary and stylish label sets. Numerous individuals have contributed their time and talents to help Archie’s fight and all proceeds are dedicated to aiding him and his family.

For more information or to buy the wine ($25 a bottle with a minimum buy of six), visit www.thearchibald.com.au.