Chalk Hill / Never Never Distilling Co, Chalk Hill Wines, Cucina di Strada — Attraction in Adelaide

This is about Never Never Distilling Co specifically - we didn’t make it to the other places on site coz we enjoyed our gin tasting too much!

We swung by on the recommendation of our server (Bonnie) over at the d’Arenberg Cube restaurant. She said that if we liked gin, we had to try Never Never - and she was right.

We probably could have split 2 tastings amongst the 3 of us, but we’re all greedy so we each got our own flight. Each came with recommended botanicals to enhance them (& an explanation from the knowledgeable server as to why those were recommended) & we did enjoy the tasting, though we were definitely intrigued by the other special edition collaborations they had on offer which you could buy a glass of separately.

Happily, our visit coincided with the launch of their Ginache — their Triple Juniper soaked in Grenache grapes — and by signing up to the newsletter (a no brainer: of COURSE I want to know about new product launches, yes pleases and thank you) we got a tasting of that added to our flights. And it was EXCELLENT.

If you’re familiar with the Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin, it’s like that… but not. I’m a huge fan of the pinky purple gins that play with wine grapes & this one is no exception — I had to take a bottle home.

Would love to go back & try Chalk Hill winery as well but on my next trip to SA I’m sure I’ll swing by Never Never to try some of their other special...

We swung by for our first visit and parked on the hill with around 150 other cars. The modern architecture sat well on the hill, with extensive views across the valley. In a side alley I noticed a sign saying the enterprise had received funds from the SA Government Regional Development fund

Never Never gin and Chalk Hill wine tastings were fully booked and those venues were full, as was the seating space between them. We scored a small table and 4 chairs on the extensive lawn before 1230 - any later and we'd have missed out - a very busy Wednesday

The queue at the Cucina was small and I'd soon ordered two Pinsa [$26 each] ham/cheese and vegan and only waited ~15 minutes for them.

Meanwhile, my friend had bought a beer and three wines by the glass at the cellar door

The Pinsa had a delightful outer crunch with a delicate inside - generously topped - delicious and sufficient for 4 people

The Chalk Hill wines and a Pirate Life Pale Ale were great

Moving on to our next destination the queue for food was over 20 people and new arrivals on the lawn were trying to scrounge chairs

We'll return for the gin and wine tasting outside the...

We had a light lunch here on a week day the place was reasonably quiet. The venue has a great setting and view. The food and drinks were good (we sat on the Never Never side).

Food: The ordering of the food took a while as the server was too busy talking to the kitchen staff to serve us (kitchen staff were also in and out but they didn't tell the server we were waiting). The food was good.

Drinks and Table Service: The waitress was quite rude to me and told me off for sitting at a table despite waiting to be seated but not being noticed. We were told that all the tables were reserved and we were lucky that one wasn't despite it being after lunch and ~10% full and well and truly after the lunch "rush". The waitress reluctantly returned to take out the order and it was brought out by a waiter who was lovely. Overall the service was ok but a little below average - I understand people can be having an off day but it shouldn't affect service. Having travelled interstate we may not...