Nepenthe Wines receives $460k SA government grant

Australian Vintage Wine's (AVL) Nepenthe Wines to benefit from the South Australian Tourism Commission’s latest round of grants.

The Adelaide Hills winery is one of nine projects to receive funding and will use the grant of just a little more than $460K to support a $1.5 million development of its cellar door to include new on-site experiences. 

AVL Wines CEO Craig Garvin said the company was extremely grateful to receive the State Government support. 

“The grant allows us to proceed with the project immediately, bringing forward the economic and social benefits of the project to the South Australian and Adelaide Hills economies in a time where it’s much needed. The renovation will boost wine sales, create employment opportunities and encourage more tourism to the region from both national and international markets,” he said. 

Nepenthe Cellar Door is being developed into 'a world class must-visit facility to support the Adelaide Hills region and wine industry,' says AVL with an upgrade tripling the capacity for visitors, a VIP tasting room and dedicated event hosting capability.

Up to 30 construction jobs and an additional 12 full-time jobs will be created as part of a new tourism development for the Adelaide Hills winery, aligning with the Regional Development Australia (RDA) roadmap in creating economic and social benefits for the community.

Premier Steven Marshall said the fund, which to date has funded 80 organisations with a total project value of more than $56.8 million, is supporting regional investment and job creation at a time when regional tourism is booming.

“The Nepenthe project is a perfect addition to the Adelaide Hills, and broader wine tourism offering in our state – it not only drives high quality cellar door experiences but also will serve as a focus point for other local wine producers,” he said.

Nepenthe Winemaker James Evers said the exciting new facility will help to showcase the Nepenthe portfolio wines and cement South Australia as Australia’s world-class premium wine state.

“We can show the world the great quality and point-winning wines that we produce here, including our 97-point Ithaca Chardonnay and 94-point Sauvignon Blanc. The improved customer experience will also provide travellers with a more involved buying and learning experience of wine, making it a leading destination to visit within region,” he says.

Nepenthe’s new advertising campaign Let it Flow commences this October targeting young urban millennials on the Eastern Seaboard to drive awareness of the brand and the Adelaide Hills wine region. The campaign represents the energy, the connection and the wine, all intertwined to enrich the experience. Free flowing afternoons, evenings, weekends, lunches, dinners, conversations - ones that stick in your mind and your recall. This increased brand awareness outside South Australia is expected to translate into a significant increase in inter-state visitation to the cellar door, ultimately providing ambassadors for the region and its products in the east.

The Nepenthe Cellar Door redevelopment project is consistent with AVL Wines’ ongoing focus on sustainability.

The development now moves into the construction phase with the plan to complete the renovations by late-2022.