Meet the newest winery restaurant in the Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley has a new dining and drinking destination with the opening of Lucia Roche Estate in time for the spring season.

The new Pokolbin eatery pairs stone-fired Italian-influenced cooking from former Savoy Grill chef Jack Zideluns with estate wines.

The menu showcases pizzas and Italian-inspired share plates and seasonal produce.

Lucia is open for lunch, dinner and drinks, aiming to offer everything from an afternoon bite to a long lunch or evening meal.

Zideluns says he grew up with recipes and traditions passed down through his Italian family, and his Nonna.

“Some of my best memories of food are sitting around a table with family, with plenty of dishes in the middle and everyone helping themselves,” the chef says.

“That’s a big part of what I want Lucia to feel like. The food is considered, but it isn’t precious. We have access to great produce here in the Hunter, a stone-fired oven at the heart of the kitchen and some incredible wine on our doorstep, so there’s plenty to work with.”

Among the dishes are burrata with romesco sauce and freshly baked pizza bread and Prosciutto Rucola pizza with prosciutto, rocket, parmesan, fig and San Marzano tomato.

On the drinks side, the list spans estate wines, the venue’s own Lucia Lager and cocktails including the Amalfi Sour.

Joining Zideluns is venue manager and licensee John Samway, a qualified wine professional with experience across restaurants, hotels, cellar doors and wineries.

Samway will oversee the wine and broader beverage offering, while operations manager Sam Harman, a qualified chef with more than 20 years in hospitality, will oversee the broader operation.

“We want Lucia to be somewhere people can gather and settle in, there’s no rush to order or to leave," says Samway.

"It should feel special enough that you want to make a plan to come here, but relaxed enough that you can spend a few hours over good food and wine.”

Lucia will open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, giving both Hunter Valley visitors and locals a new option for pizza, pasta, wine and cocktails in the centre of the wine tourism region.

For more info see https://luciarocheestate.com.au/.