Casa Luna, King Valley review: Modern, elegant and comfortable

King Valley, Vic

1569 Boggy Creek Road, Myrrhee

Phone: (03) 5729 7650

Email: indulge@casaluna.com.au

Web: casaluna.com.au

The Location Myrrhee is a tiny farming hamlet in the King Valley area. The region is a destination for serious foodies, drawn by its artisanal, back-to-its-roots food-and-wine production, which has an Italian influence.

The Place Casa Luna, meaning "House of the Moon", is a major draw for visitors to the valley because its accommodation package offers outstanding Italian-inspired food matched to local wines. The intimate, glass-walled dining room has views over the surrounding farmland and creek. Casa Luna has two Queen Suites attached to the main purpose-built house and a detached building with two King Suites with shared living room, perfect for families or groups. Interiors are modern, elegant and comfortable.

The Experience Casa Luna's food ranges from a picnic or platter to a full degustation menu. On this visit, the three-course meal ($75 a person, with a glass of wine) was minestrone, a Tuscan beef stew called peposa, and a broken-toffee, mascarpone and blood-orange tart with orange-rind pastry (two courses plus wine cost $55 a person). There's also a wood-fired outdoor oven for pizza. The large breakfast, included in the tariff, has great breads, local bacon, free-range eggs and home-made jams. Daytime, visitors can head to any number of local wineries, but the real treat for foodies is browsing through the dining room's extensive library of cookbooks.

Don't Miss Boggy Creek Vineyards is literally next door. Wineries such as Pizzini Wines (03 5729 8278) and Politini Wines (03 5729 8277) offer courses in cooking and salami making. The area is beautiful; enjoy the country driving and walks. Visit nearby Whitfield's gourmet pub, the Mountain View Hotel (03 5729 8270).