A new place to eat, drink and spend time in the Hunter Valley is opening this month, with Lucia Roche Estate set to open its doors in Pokolbin on 17 September 2026.
The new restaurant will bring stone-fired pizzas, Italian-inspired share plates, estate wines and cocktails to Roche Estate, with a menu built around seasonal produce and food designed to be shared.
Open for lunch, dinner and drinks, Lucia is designed for everything from an afternoon bite to a long lunch or evening meal, giving locals and visitors a new place to settle in at the heart of Hunter Valley wine country.
Leading the kitchen is Head Chef Jack Zideluns, whose career has taken him through kitchens including Merivale, Society, Hamilton Island and the Boathouse Group, as well as London’s Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay, where he worked as Junior Sous Chef.
At Lucia, Zideluns is also drawing on a more personal food story. Growing up with recipes and traditions passed down through his Italian family and his Nonna, his approach is grounded in simple, generous food designed to arrive in the middle of the table and be passed around.
“Some of my best memories of food are sitting around a table with family, with plenty of dishes in the middle and everyone helping themselves,” says Zideluns. “That’s a big part of what I want Lucia to feel like. The food is considered, but it isn’t precious. We have access to great produce here in the Hunter, a stone-fired oven at the heart of the kitchen and some incredible wine on our doorstep, so there’s plenty to work with.”
Among the dishes are burrata with romesco sauce and freshly baked pizza bread; Prosciutto Rucola pizza with prosciutto, rocket, parmesan, fig and San Marzano tomato; and Pesto Mafalde Corte with basil, pistachio and stracciatella.
On the drinks side, the list spans locally produced estate wines, the venue’s own Lucia Lager and cocktails including the Amalfi Sour.
Joining Zideluns is Venue Manager and Licensee John Samway, a WSET Level 3-qualified wine professional with experience across restaurants, hotels, cellar doors and wineries. His previous roles include Manly Pavilion, The Gantry at Pier One Sydney Harbour, Spicers Guesthouse, Mount Ashby Estate and Hunter Valley wineries.
Samway will oversee the wine and broader beverage offering, while Operations Manager Sam Harman, a qualified chef with more than 20 years in hospitality, will oversee the broader operation. Harman’s background spans executive chef roles and multi-site hospitality operations.
“We want Lucia to be somewhere people can gather and settle in, there’s no rush to order or to leave. It should feel special enough that you want to make a plan to come here, but relaxed enough that you can spend a few hours over good food and wine,” says Samway.
“The Hunter Valley already gives people plenty of reasons to spend time here, and we wanted to create another place people genuinely want to come back to.”
Located at Roche Estate on Broke Road in Pokolbin, Lucia will open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, giving both Hunter Valley visitors and locals a new option for pizza, pasta, wine and cocktails in the centre of Pokolbin.
