Australian Fork lifter accident ruins A$1m of Shiraz wine

Over Australian $1m ($1.07m; £664,000) of wine has been wipeout in a forklift accident in Australia.

The 2010 Mollydooker Velvet Glove Shiraz sells for Australian $185 a bottle ($199; £122), the AFP news agency said.

Winemaker Sparky Marquis told newsmen he was "gut-pulled" that 462 cases of wine had been demolished while being loaded for export to the United States.

When they opened up the container they said it was like a killing view," he said. "But it smelled unusual."

Mr. Marquis told the AAP news agency the shipment signified one-third of his McLaren Vale winery's yearly production.

It's a huge loss. We're going through all of the 462 cases immediately only to observe what we can save out of it."

The wine was, however, fully insured.

Agence France-Presse said Kerry Logistics, which was managing the shipment, moves in excess of 20,000 containers per year.

Brett McCarthur spokesman said the firm had never had a breakdown of that type before.

"It was very difficult to make that describe to Sparky," he said.