A $400,000 State Government Regional Development Fund grant will contribute to the $1.6 million project to help Royal Park-based Never Never Distilling Co. move to McLaren Vale, where it will expand its operations at the Chalk Hill Wines site.

Never Never Distilling Co. aims to create Australia’s most interesting and ambitious gins and whiskies complementing Chalk Hill’s well-established reputation for world-class wines. Fifteen ongoing full-time  equivalent positions will be created with the new wine and spirit partnership, along with around ten jobs during the construction phase.

Together, the companies will embark on crafting unique wine and spirit experiences for the corporate and  tourism sectors, leveraging the site’s stunning 270 degree views of the McLaren Vale region as well boost sales and export opportunities.

The funding should assist Never Never Distilling Co. to grow its production capacity with a 350 square metre state-of-the-art spirits distillery, including a cellar door/bar experience and the opportunity to co-host events and functions with Chalk Hill Wines.

The project aligns with the SA Government’s economic priorities of premium food and wine produced in our clean environment and exported to the world, growth through innovation and opening doors for small business.

Background

The Regional Development Fund (RDF) drives economic growth through grants to boost investment in regional infrastructure and the creation of jobs in South Australia.

The RDF has been independently assessed by Ernst and Young. This assessment showed that projects supported by the RDF in the 2016/17 financial year alone would make an economic contribution to the state of over $1 billion and create over 3000 regional jobs.

Never Never Distilling Co. was founded by Sean Baxter (Sales & Marketing), George Georgiadis (Director) and Tim Boast (Head Distiller) in May 2016, with the first sales of their Triple Juniper Gin in July 2017. The distillery is currently based in a 16 square metre space inside Big Shed Brewing Concern in Royal Park where there is no room to expand production.

The first Chalk Hill Wines vineyard was planted in 1897, the wine company is family-owned and dedicated to making small batch, hand-crafted wines of distinction. The Harvey family grape growing heritage goes back six generations in South Australia and now has six vineyards across the McLaren Vale wine region.

Source: PIRSA