An Adelaide Hills wine label has been launched to raise money for Parkinson's Disease research.
Silver Linings Wines last month released its first wines made from fruit grown in Hahndorf, Macclesfield and Echunga.
The project is led by second-generation vigneron Marty Edwards, whose parents John and Helen started successful Hahndorf winery The Lane in the 1990s.
Mr Edwards, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2012, will donate the profits from Silver Linings' sales to fund MRI scans to detect the degenerative neurological condition.
The former Navy diver spent almost 20 years working at The Lane and was drawn to the idea of creating his own label using Adelaide Hills grapes.
"It's about using the skill set I have to help direct some funds to Parkinson's Disease research," Mr Edwards said.
"Silver Linings is about looking for the good in everything and trusting that no matter how hard things get at any point, there's got to be some upside.
"I couldn't think of a more beautiful environment to create some good."
Mr Edwards, who was a seemingly healthy 42-year-old at the time, was the second youngest person in South Australia to be diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's Disease.
Once diagnosed, he struggled with the amount of medication he was given, recognising the mental and physical toll it was taking on him.
He then sought out a second opinion and underwent Deep Brain Stimulation in 2018 to treat the condition.
As a result, he now takes only a quarter of the medication he was initially prescribed.
In order to prevent other patients from being faced with a similar situation, Mr Edwards hopes to fund a simple MRI procedure to aid more accurate and earlier diagnoses of Parkinson's Disease.
"I was only 42 at the time [of diagnosis], most people don't get it until they're 60," he said.
"I was sort of defined by my physical prowess and for that to be the one thing that could be taken away from me was pretty hard to cope with.
"There's a lot to be talking about when you receive a diagnosis like I did, but there's also a lot to look forward to.
"Silver Linings is just another help to hopefully get an accurate, efficient and, high-speed diagnosis and get people onto the right medication."
The Silver Linings range launched on July 1 with a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay. A Shiraz will be released next year. There have been 350 cases of each variety made from the 2020 vintage.
Silver Linings Wines can be bought online, with Mr Edwards hoping to soon stock his label in Adelaide bars and restaurants.
"I had been down there for nearly 20 years, so I had a good look around the region, met some good growers, excellent winemakers and was lucky enough to put together a really good team," he said.
"I really like the cool climate and the more European styles of wines that the Hills have.
"I consider myself extremely fortunate to have undertaken the path that I did today."
This article was originally published on The Lead.
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