Tasmanian distilleries, winemakers set to benefit from proposed Australia-UK free trade deal

Tassie businesses are ready to make the most of export opportunities from a post-Brexit trade deal.

The prospect of Australia doing a post-Brexit free trade deal with Britain has come at a good time for a Tasmanian distillery.

Devonport’s Southern Wild Distillery, which started up in 2017, had been making plans to launch into the UK market.

The business travelled overseas recently with a trade delegation, and have been approached by a high-profile retail chain in Britain expressing interest in stocking its products.

It came off the back of the distillery gaining international recognition with honours for its gin at the World Liqueur Awards.

Dasher and Fisher Mountain Gin made by Southern Wild Distillery.

Southern Wild co-owner George Burgess said it was an exciting development for the distillery, which was earlier this month crowned the Telstra Tasmanian Business of the Year.

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“For a high-end retailer to contact us, was like Christmas,’’ he said.

“The exciting part of it is this is not how it is supposed to work.

“The idea is you get a distributor in a place then it’s the work of the distributor to go knocking on doors and convince bars, restaurants and retailers to stock your product.”

The Mercury revealed yesterday that the state could be a big winner from a free trade deal, with Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham saying it would see massive benefits for niche Tasmanian producers.

The state’s annual exports to the UK have fallen from $62.7 million to $9.1 million over the past decade.

But Mr Birmingham and Premier Will Hodgman see a chance for a turnaround if British Prime Minister Boris Johnson can negotiate a deal to leave the European Union before the October 31 deadline.

Mr Burgess said this was good news for the ambitions of distilleries like his to distribute products internationally.

Southern Wild Distillery owner George Burgess. Picture: SUPPLIED

“Anything that helps open doors for us means that we get to employ more locals, but importantly we get to support more local growers,’’ he said.

“The more markets that open up to us internationally, the more opportunity to our communities here to be more sustainable and more viable.”

Mr Burgess said it was important for Tasmania’s brand to be able to stand out in a global market.

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Wine Tasmania chief executive Sheralee Davies said a large percentage of Tasmania’s wine was sold domestically, but any new opportunities to encourage exports was positive.

“95 per cent of Tasmania’s wine is sold in the domestic market, but any reduction in trade barriers or tariffs is welcome for those wine businesses currently exporting or looking to export in the future,’’ she said.

“The UK market is considered a market of opportunity in terms of wine export as well as encouraging wine tourists to visit Tasmania.”

Mr Hodgman will lead a trade delegation to the UK and Europe next month — after the Brexit deadline — to seek further opportunities for local businesses.