2018 Good Food Guide: National Edition

On Monday night, the inaugural Australian Good Food Guide Awards took place in Sydney. The much anticipated guide celebrates Australia's very best, awarding restaurants a score out of 20 with those with a score above 15 earning a one, two or three-hat rating. This is the first year of a national guide, in recognition of Australia's appetite for destination restaurants and travelling to foodie hotspots. The national Good Food Guide features 500 restaurant reviews and takes the hats to all corners of Australia. A total of 267 restaurants across the country were awarded one hat or more.

We are delighted to report that four Ultimate Wineries have been awarded hats in the Australian Good Food Guide 2018:

Penfolds Magill Estate, Adelaide Hills: 2 hats

Situated at the spiritual home of Penfolds, the restaurant is located just 8km from the city of Adelaide, approximately a 15 minute journey by car and situated adjacent to the Magill Estate Vineyard, Winery and Cellars.

The restaurant combines modern architectural style with the natural attributes of its Adelaide foothills location and historic surrounds and delivers a contemporary and comfortable fine dining atmosphere. Contemporary food, an extensive collection of Penfolds wines, exemplary service and stunning views completes one of Australia’s finest food and wine experiences.

With an international career spanning over 17 years, Head Chef Scott Huggins refined his culinary expertise, whilst working for several of the world’s high-end, Michelin-starred restaurants.

With a passion for creating fresh, natural dishes, Scott honed his skills in the kitchens of culinary destinations such as The Royal Mail Hotel in Victoria, Iggy’s at The Hilton in Singapore and Micolau Hotel and Restaurant in Spain. Upon his return to Australia in 2013, Scott joined the Magill Estate Restaurant team.

Experience the Magill Estate Restaurant on our Twilight Tour and Luxury Degustation Dinner.

Vasse Felix, Margaret River: 2 hats

The Vasse Felix Restaurant offers a beautiful setting to indulge in regional flavours, textures and creative cuisine to compliment the Wine Collection. The menu is created from local, seasonal produce and changes daily as new ingredients become available.

Modern Australian in style, the menu draws inspiration from international preparation techniques, fused in a manner unique to Vasse Felix. A la carte and tasting menus are available.

A wine-matched lunch at the Vasse Felix Restaurant is included in our Vasse Felix Epicurean experience.

Montalto Restaurant, Mornington Peninsula: 1 hat

The Montalto Restaurant is a beautiful and relaxed setting, a harmonious landscape building featuring rammed earth walls, timber frames and rough-hewn floor boards. Floor to ceiling windows take advantage of the breathtaking and rambling rural outlook.

A spirit of generosity pervades. Real, warm and welcoming service from engaged and professional staff.

Chef Gerard Phelan explains: ‘The food at Montalto is predominantly inspired by what’s growing on site at the time. We strive to use innovative techniques and methods of working with our produce with the end goal of getting maximum true flavour. A carrot is a carrot and must remain that way at the end of a process.’

Celebrate Montalto's food and wine philosophy on our Estate to Plate - A Gourmet Indulgence experience.

Voyager Estate, Margaret River: 1 hat

Wine has always been the hero at the Voyager Estate Restaurant.

The 7-course Discovery Menu is the signature experience; each course is inspired by a Voyager Estate wine. Head chef, Santiago (Santi) Fernandez and his team also take inspiration from the vineyards and winemaking process in creating dishes that bring a small part of the Estate to the table.

The 4-course Discovery Menu is a taster of the 7-course, allowing those with limited time to choose some of their courses, either matched to the recommendations or selected from the extensive wine list.

Experience dining at Voyager Estate on the Estate Tour and Discovery Menu experience.

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