A new restaurant is coming to the vineyards, bringing flavours from South America and the Mediterranean – say hello to Estancia Osteria, arriving at Briar Ridge Vineyard this April.

Inspired by Italy’s osterias – a type of informal eatery or tavern, often family-run – Estancia Osteria is a place to enjoy innovative and creative cuisine with friends and family with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Estancia Osteria is brought to you by owners and Executive Chefs Gabriel Rodrigues and James Orlowski, whose idea for a restaurant married perfectly with what Briar Ridge Vineyard had in mind.

“Gabriel was actually in Parma, Italy, on food research eating at osterias for both lunch and dinner, capturing as many ideas as possible to bring back to the business about the roots of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine,” James said.

“When we found out the osteria at Briar Ridge Vineyard was available, we didn’t think twice.”

The pair have worked together since they met while both at Bird and Bear Group, managing kitchens in Sydney and Newcastle.

For Gabriel, finding his calling as a chef was totally unintentional.

“My journey began in Brazil where I accidentally discovered a secret passion for cooking after my original plan of becoming a lawyer came to a halt. Born and raised in a family of cooks, I learned how to combine ingredients thanks to my grandmother who was a retired chef with over 40 years of kitchen experience under her belt,” Gabriel said.

On the other hand, James fostered a love of food from a young age.

“My affair with gastronomy traces back to my childhood in New Zealand's South Island, amidst dairy and cattle farms, where our sustenance came from the land itself… My weekends and holidays were adventures in the highlands, hunting, fishing, and transforming our gatherings into culinary delights,” James said.

At Estancia Osteria, Gabriel and James have combined their extensive culinary experience to create a menu centred on cooking over fire, which they say enhances the natural characteristics of the ingredients they work with.

Expect dishes like smoked Dawson’s oysters with fermented chilli and lemon, whole picanha with burnt salsa, eight-hour smoked lamb shoulder with port wine, and even house-made chorizo.

Pair your menu selections with a glass of Briar Ridge wine, and you’ll find yourself wishing you could get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life more often.

You’re invited to celebrate the restaurant’s opening with an exclusive launch event on Saturday March 16, where Gabriel and James will introduce Estancia Osteria and its ‘Fire to Table’ dining experience.

Featuring three courses, sparkling wine on arrival, and three glasses of Briar Ridge wines to pair with the meal, it’s set to be a memorable evening.

If you can’t make it to the launch event, make sure you head to Briar Ridge’s Wine Deck this Easter to taste the vineyard’s wines alongside a tasting menu by Estancia Osteria. 

We can’t wait to see the evolution of Estancia Osteria at this renowned Hunter Valley winery – we suspect it’ll be a well-received pairing!