Levantine Hill Estate

Urban Design

Cultural, Hospitality, Mixed-Use

Yarra Valley

Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit

Undertaken initially as a wine producing facility, Levantine Hill Estate has evolved into a unique wine tourism destination, adding another dimension to an already beautiful section of Victoria, drawing people from near and far.

Location

Melbourne, Australia

Client

Levantine Hill Estate

Cost

$20 million

Completion

Ongoing

Traditional Custodians

Wurundjeri people

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

Photography: imageplay.com.au

Photographer: Shannon McGrath

The new space has been designed for events and to experience the winemaking process from within its curved steel and glass barrel vault structure.

The masterplan accounts for a trio of facilities carefully placed within new and existing vineyards, exploiting the bucolic views of the surrounding valley and mountain ranges. These interconnected built forms comprise the cellar door, the wine production facility with reception area, and a soon to be realised boutique hotel.

A formally laid out ‘village green’ visually links the cellar door and wine production building. Upon arrival – by vehicle or helicopter – joyful visitors are then encouraged to perambulate to enjoy the wine experience and sculptural installations within the landscape.

Photographer: Willem-Dirk du Toit

The cellar door, which opened in 2015, is a place to enjoy a fine dining experience enriched by the story of the LHE wine collection. The entry of the building was designed to provide a wine orientation experience followed by food and carefully paired wine selections.

Within the barrel vault of the wine production building, a function hall has been uniquely integrated with an adjoining multi-use pavilion, which combine varying functions with the total wine experience. This provides the ability to wine taste and host a function that revolves around wine in the upper level.

The third stage in the masterplan, now in development, is a boutique hotel. It will complete the vision for a total food, wine and entertainment experience making Levantine Hill Estate the first tourist development fully realised by Fender Katsalidis.