Ahrens’ latest design and construct project, Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, has proven to be a sweet success with locals and visitors to the South Australian region.
The $5.5 million-dollar facility combines a chocolaterie, retail shop, café, ice creamery and cellar door, nestled amongst mature gum trees and vineyards in the historic Barossa Valley, South Australia.
As a fellow local Barossa company, Ahrens were a winning match of experience in the region with a quality cost effective approach.
Works included the construction of a 1,375 square metre building complete with functioning chocolate producing facility, amphitheatre, cellar door, commercial kitchen, 150 seat café, retail area, point of sale areas, landscaping and a deck under the main roof overlooking a fabricated lake.
The venue offers several stunning design focal points including a chocolate waterfall, a stone fireplace, picturesque man-made lake, and a viewing window to the chocolaterie, which plans to initially produce 50 tonnes of chocolate a year.
Ahrens engaged Barossa architect, Jamie Gladigau of JBG Architects, to design the facility, continuing a long-relationship of local projects with Ahrens.
Barossa Valley Chocolate Company was the brainchild of owners Chris and Sandy Day who collaborated with Food and Beverage Australia Limited (FABAL) to see their idea come to fruition.
The venue takes inspiration from destinations around the world that have already perfected the art of pairing beautiful locally-produced chocolate with local wines.
The cellar door showcases FABAL’s Vineyard Road wines and offers paired chocolate and wine tastings.
The venue was officially opened by Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment David Ridgway and Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone.
Mr Ridgway said the latest attraction was ‘a fantastic addition to the Barossa Valley tourism mix’. “Appealing to children and adults alike, it is sure to bring an influx of visitors to the region,” Mr Ridgway said.
“It is a significant investment and contribution into South Australia’s visitor economy that will create jobs for locals and increase the already outstanding appeal of the Barossa Valley.”
With extensive experience in delivering facilities for the food and beverage sector across Australia, Ahrens are particularly renowned in the Barossa Valley for specialising in winery buildings and infrastructure, commercial buildings, and engineering and winery maintenance.
Our experience ensures we can deliver facilities that meet even the most stringent of food handling and processing requirements.