A joint venture between a McLaren Vale winery and a new spirits distillery will create 15 full-time equivalent jobs, while showcasing some of SA’s best wine and spirits in the one place.
A $400,000 state government regional development fund grant will contribute to a $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. was founded by Sean Baxter, George Georgiadis and Tim Boast in May, 2016, with the first sales of their Triple Juniper Gin in July, 2017.
The distillery is presently based in a 16m2 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 SA with six vineyards across the McLaren Vale wine region.
Chalk Hill Wines general manager Stuart Mosman said they saw Never Never Distilling Co as a “kindred spirit”.
“From the beginning, they were showing us innovation and quality, from their triple juniper gin right down to their product packaging,” he said.
“The Chalk Hill vista is truly beautiful and the perfect place for us to showcase our amazing single vineyard wines, along with world class, small batch spirits.”
Never Never Distilling Co. director George Georgiadis said this would be a chance to “share our vision”.
”McLaren Vale is a region at the top of Australia's food and beverage industry and the ideal place for Never Never to be based,” he said.
“We even pick up the features of the landscape on our packaging.”
Fifteen ongoing full-time equivalent positions will be created with the new wine and spirit partnership, along with about 10 jobs during the construction phase.
The funding will assist Never Never Distilling Co. to grow its production capacity with a 350m2 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.