A wine maker in western New South Wales says the loss of hobby grape growers from the Dubbo region could help strengthen the Australian wine industry. The Chairman of Macquarie Valley Food and Wine, Ken Borchardt, says the entire grape harvest in Dubbo, worth around $3 million, has been wiped out by mildew and disease from the wet weather late last year. The founder of the Red Earth Estate says some growers are pulling out vines and planning to grow cherries and other fruit crops instead of grapes. Mr Borchardt says the tighter competition could be a positive for wine makers.