Play it cool at CRUSH

Offering 43 events at 41 wineries over three days, the weekend will celebrate the best things about life in the Adelaide Hills. Participating wineries and event organisers have worked to create a program that reflects the youthful and fresh character of the region, hosting events such as Bar à Vin, which will transform Artwine into a European wine bar for a night, and Howard Vineyard’s Mexican Fiesta, where guests will be able to indulge in Mexican eats, wine, craft beer and sangria. “Many people know that the Hills is a great spot to try our crisp, fresh cool climate wines but the CRUSH Festival adds a whole new dimension,” Adelaide Hills Wine Region CEO Robin Shaw said in a press release. “With more cellar doors involved than ever before and a stack of fresh new events on offer, this year is looking to be a sensational display of all the things we love about living and working in the Hills.” Some participating wineries include Bird In Hand, Longview Vineyard, Mordrelle Wines, Petaluma, Pike and Joyce Wines, Shaw + Smith and The Lane Vineyard. Two cluster events, or large-scale collaborations between a variety of producers, are set to be highlights of the weekend. The Adelaide Hills Convention Centre will host an all-day celebration featuring SC Pannell, D’Arenberg, Hills Cider Co and Karrawatta with live music, DJ’s, gourmet food tents, wine, and cider, while Mount Lofty House will showcase Main & Cherry, Top Note, Kersbrook Hill, Ten Miles East and Lambrook alongside local gourmet pizzas, Adelaide Hills cheese plates and more. While the majority of CRUSH events are free, some require tickets which must be booked before the festival weekend, details of which can be found on the CRUSH website. Punters are also able to purchase an official souvenir Spiegelau wine glass for $10, which will allow them to enjoy free entry at all non-ticketed events. The festival will offer a bus service to and from Adelaide on the Sunday, and a shuttle bus that will travel between venues during the day. CRUSH has also teamed up with Adelaide accommodation venues, including Arkaba Hotel, Adelaide Hills Accommodation Group, Hahndorf Resort and Rydges South Park, who are providing exclusive deals for CRUSH visitors. crushfestival.com.au Friday, January 22 to Sunday, January 24