CHECK-IN

To say Cassis is within the coronary heart of Mornington Peninsula wine nation would virtually be understating issues. You possibly can’t get any nearer than this. You would throw a grape from the deck right here and hit a number of of Australia’s greatest producers of nice wine. The vines of Lancemore Lindenderry are laid out earlier than your eyes. Foxey’s Hangout is simply over a ridgeline. Polperro is over there to the east. Fundamental Ridge Property is simply over west. Ten Minutes by Tractor is, appropriately, about 10 minutes by tractor, even much less by automobile. In case you like to drink and also you like to eat and also you like to be surrounded by the rising and creating of scrumptious issues, then there are few higher locations on this planet than proper right here in Purple Hill. The entry from these 5 luxurious villas is unbelievable.

THE LOOK

Cassis has solely been open just a little over six months, and every part nonetheless appears to be like new, every part works, and every part has clearly had some huge cash spent on it. House owners Gina and Simon McNamara have extensively renovated the location of a former restaurant and personal residence. The pair say they had been impressed by a 12 months dwelling in a Seventeenth-century farmhouse close to Aix-en-Provence in France, and particularly by their visits to the small seaside city of Cassis. They describe these villas as “fashionable rustic”, which is truthful sufficient, with their large picket eating tables, open fires, polished concrete decks, and the kind of earthy-toned linens that may make a Byron Bay Instagram mum swoon.

THE ROOM

I am staying in The Cottage, a spacious villa with one king bed room, a toilet, a big lounge and eating space with kitchenette, and a non-public deck with a heated plunge pool and views out over the vines. Entry is primary, with a key left in a lockbox by the door, although all of the conveniences are included when you’re inside, from luxurious mattress linen, to robes and slippers, to toiletries and different facilities. The kitchenette is nicely outfitted, with a fridge, microwave, Nespresso machine, toaster and sandwich press – the one factor that is lacking, curiously, is a stovetop, which makes creating an honest meal right here from all these high-end substances you’ve got picked up just about unattainable. On the intense aspect, it will get chilly right here within the hills, so there is a fire, and that plunge pool, which heats as much as an ideal temperature for a night dip.

FOOD + DRINK

The villas embody a continental breakfast hamper to get you thru the primary morning, plus a bottle of native wine and a cheese platter. You are additionally staying in consuming and eating heaven, so you will by no means go with out. Inside a 10-minute drive you’ve got Tedesca Osteria (tedesca.com.au), one in every of Australia’s greatest eating places, in addition to high-end eating at Ten Minutes by Tractor (tenminutesbytractor.com.au), fashionable Sri Lankan delicacies at Many Little (manylittle.com.au), mod-Oz meals with a view at Polperro (polperrowines.com.au), and excellent small-plate eating at Foxey’s Hangout (foxeys-hangout.com.au). Solid the web just a little wider and you’ve got an absolute embarrassment of choices.

OUT + ABOUT

Time to go wine tasting. Try all the above-mentioned wineries, in addition to Port Phillip Property (portphillipestate.com.au), Avani (avanisyrah.com.au), Purple Hill Property (redhillestate.com.au), Montalto (montalto.com.au) and Ocean Eight (oceaneight.com.au). It’s possible you’ll need to rent a driver, too – attempt David Begg from Peninsula Wine Area Transfers (0412 153 061).

THE VERDICT

An expensive mixture of rustic and fashionable in an unbelievable location.

ESSENTIALS

Villas from $650 an evening ($850 for The Cottage), minimal two-night keep. See cassisredhill.com.au

HIGHLIGHT

Heated plunge pool, twilight, glass of wine, views of vines. Say no extra.

LOWLIGHT

The worth tag is hefty, which, with the lacking stovetop, brings the rating down.

OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE

★★★★

Ben Groundwater stayed as a visitor of Go to Victoria.