IN THE wake of the recent Adelaide Hills bushfires, the Adelaide Hills Wine Region has partnered with the Country Fire Service Foundation to raise more than $30,000 in funds during the 2015 Crush festival this weekend.
Chairman of the AHWR and winemaker Tom Keelan said with a record crowd anticipated, the festival provided the perfect opportunity for wineries to give something back to the brave men and women of the CFS.
“As vignerons we all make a living working with and sometimes against the natural elements, bushfire is just a part of this mix,” he said.
“We understand better than anyone how important our local CFS is and how dedicated and critical the volunteers are that give up their time and energy to keep our homes, property and families from harm.
“Every winery will be rattling the can and collecting donations from visitors to the region during the Crush weekend; we decided to raise some funds whilst raising a glass, I think it’s a fitting salute."
The largest food and wine festival in the Adelaide Hills, Crush is set to go ahead as planned with only a very small corner of the wine region affected by the fires.
AHWR chief executive officer and Crush organiser Robin Shaw is expecting a crowd of more than 20,000 people to visit the 35 participating wineries over the Australia Day long weekend.
“We are certainly open for business,” she said.
“The Hills are still a lush green and cool place to be on a warm summer’s day - the perfect spot for a glass of wine under the shade of a tree.”
