Big plans for vines festival

By Sarah Schwager
CARDINIA Shire could sport its own annual harvest festival if plans for a Music In The Vines event in Upper Beaconsfield goes ahead.
The idea is a joint venture by Sergio Carlei, who owns Carlei Greens Vineyards in Upper Beaconsfield, and Chris Wright, who owns neighbouring Pine Grove Hotel.
Plans for the festival are still in the early stages but may be held in late February or early March.
Mr Wright said they had missed the boat this year but were keen on getting it organised in time for next year and wanted to make it an annual event.
He said it could become Cardinia’s version of the Yarra Valley Grape Grazing Festival in February.
“We want to kick off our own festival here,” he said. “Maybe five or 10 years down the track we could turn it into our own grape grazing festival.”
The festival would most likely be run on a Sunday, with food available for purchase, such as cheese platters and gourmet barbecue, music throughout the day, entertainment, fireworks at night, and a selection of wines, beer and spirits.
“It would be a familyoriented day. They could bring picnic rugs and come with the kids,” Mr Wright said.
Mr Carlei said they would also look at inviting other businesses in the region to set up tents with their wine and produce available for sale.
Mr Wright said there might be a token charge to cover the fireworks display and it would be a nonBYO event.
“We’ll start promoting it in January and see how we go,” he said.
“We might only have 500 people this year but at least we will kick it off.”
He said eventually they might be able to attract 2000 people with people sitting in between the vines and make it “a real family day”.
He said the only risk would be the weather, as there were few undercover facilities on site besides the pub, which could only hold so many people.