Just Open: Chrismont Cellar Door and Restaurant, King Valley

King Valley winery Chrismont​ has added a contemporary cellar door, restaurant, larder and functions area to its Cheshunt property, where the former tobacco-farming Pizzini family began growing grapes in 1980.

The multipurpose building, five years in the planning sits atop a hill, with floor-to-ceiling glass making the most of views of the Black Ranges and King Valley, a 40-metre balcony that seems to float over the vines, and an imposing double-sided fireplace made from granite quarried in Glenrowan.

Jo Pizzini and her cousin, Giovanna Jones, have based the menu on recipes from Italy's north (Arnie Pizzini's family) and south (Jo's family), designed to match the Mediterranean-inspired wines under the family's various labels, Chrismont, La Zona, Riserva and Casa.

Typical is spaghetti napolitana​ lifted with fennel and anchovies and topped with pangrattato (toasted breadcrumbs) and house-made ricotta salata (dried, salted ricotta).

The pair are also stocking the larder with some of their family specialities, such as Sicilian-style pickled eggplant and zucchini and Trentino-style torrone and nougat for visitors to take home.

Open daily 10am-5pm.

251 Upper King River Road, Cheshunt, King Valley 03 5729 8220, chrismont.com.au