The glamorous property in Melbourne’s closest wine region, which boasts a couple of helipads, is already busy with day events and will enter the residential conference market with a new $20 million, two-storey 33-suite accommodation precinct separate from the cellar door and function spaces, which are a short walk away.
The property is a one-hour drive from Melbourne, or about 15 minutes by helicopter, which has proved a popular incentive experience.
Levantine Hill has been architected into the landscape since its inception by renowned Melbourne-based designers, Fender Katsalidis. They have also designed the hotel, which the winery owners, the Jreissati family, see as a natural extension of the hospitality and unique venues already on offer.
The accommodation is described by the architects as restrained. Its interiors will reflect the earthy tones of the landscape with raw concrete and timber joinery accented with silver fittings and leather. Each room also has a wine fridge allowing guests to have it stocked with their favourite Levantine Hill tipple upon arrival.
As an event destination, Levantine Hill has four indoor spaces that can cater for six people up to 500. Added two years ago at a cost of $30 million, a three-level carbon steel building which echoes the rolling hills of Coldstream, houses the event spaces – a boardroom on the mezzanine level and a ground floor banquet hall with an underground barrel room. There’s also a winery pavilion, restaurant and cellar door, plus acres of outdoor space around a village green concept.
Levantine Hill managing director, Samantha Jreissati says premium accommodation is much needed in the Yarra Valley. The region has almost 100 cellar doors and attracted more than six million visitors last year, injecting more than $870 million into the local visitor economy.
The hotel is expected to open next year, and, according to the Australian Financial Review, the owners are reported to already have plans for a second hotel comprising 47 rooms.
