Boost for regional jobs and tourism through new Clare Valley centre

Boost for regional jobs and tourism through new Clare Valley centreVisitors to the Clare Valley have a new tourist attraction with the opening of a new micro brewery at Pikes Wines.Speaking at the opening of the new centre last night at the Pikes Polish Hill River site, Regional Development Minister, Geoff Brock welcomed the project as an initiative that will create jobs and draw tourists to the region.”This project sees a new craft brewery which will complement the existing success of the Pikes Wines cellar door and art gallery in Clare,” Mr Brock said. “Pikes is bringing its brewing o the Clare Valley with the support of a grant of $184,477 from the State Government’s enhanced $15 million a year Regional Development Fund. “This project will create four permanent full time jobs over the next two years. “Pikes’ craft beer production is set to increase its national distribution, including sales to overseas markets, while visitors to the Clare Valley will be drawn to this high quality integrated cellar door experience bringing further revenue into the region. “This project is a terrific example of a local business contributing to the region’s economy and supporting a variety of existing tourism, regional and State Government strategies aimed at creating vibrant, sustainable regions,” Mr Brock said. Andrew Pike, Director of Pikes Wines, Andrew Pike said the creation of the brewery at its Clare site was significant on many levels. “Our great-great-grandfather, Henry Pike established Pikes Beers in the Adelaide Hills in 1886, and we reintroduced beer production in 1996, but we had to do it offsite” Mr Pike said. “To be able to bring the brewing home to Clare, thanks to the support of the Regional Development Fund grant, is historically and economically significant for us as a business and for the Valley. “We anticipate the benefits to Pikes and to the Valley will extend beyond simply selling our product. “We are looking forward to refining and expanding our product offerings from our wine and beer sales through to event packages that we can market domestically,” Mr Pike said.