Forest Hill Wines to install bottling line and double production output thanks to $580k State Government grant

A Great Southern winery will be doubling its production capacity and installing a “state-of-the-art” in-house bottling line that will lift the capabilities of the local wine-making industry, thanks to a State Government grant.

Forest Hill Wines has received a $580,000 Value Add Investment grant to support a $1.32 million upgrade of its production facilities, with the upgrade creating five new roles in the business.

Announced by Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis on Friday, the grant offers half the funding for the upgrade with the business to front the other half.

Alongside the bottling line, upgrades to the Denmark-based winery include a new temperature-controlled cool room to enhance wine fermentation processes and allow premium barrel-fermented wines and innovative wine styles.

On-site storage for packaged wine will also be expanded which will help increase small-batch winemaking opportunities for Forest Hill Wines and its clients.

Ms Jarvis said as well as expanding Forest Hill Wines’ operations, the grants provided “significant and ongoing flow-on effects for the communities” that the business is a part of.

“These grants create jobs, stimulate further investment and benefit the whole supply chain — from the growers and the producers to the manufacturers to those who deliver and sell the final products,” she said.

“The expansions of . . . Forest Hill Wines value-add facilities, will not only help these businesses to grow their operations but help build opportunities for other businesses in the Great Southern region.”

Warren-Blackwood MLA Jane Kelsbie said the expansion of Forest Hill Wines signalled good news for the entire region’s winemakers.

“The Great Southern has a proud reputation for our premium wines and this investment in Forest Hill Wines is incredible news for the business and the region’s wine producers,” she said.

“This expansion will create five new full-time positions and support Forest Hill Wines to streamline its production processes and meet the growing demands for their wine and winemaking services.”

Other recipients of the Value Add Investment grants include Kojonup Feeds which received $750,0000 and Mt Barker Chicken which received $1m.

Three more Great Southern businesses will be announced as recipients later this year.