About Casa Luna:
Situated in the beautiful King Valley wine region, Casa Luna is a gourmet-lovers' luxury paradise. Casa Luna offers stylish accommodation and beautiful food for the sophisticated traveller.

When caterer Gwenda Canty escaped Melbourne, she took with her a flair for food and wine and a desire to create a gourmet escape in the King Valley, south of Wangaratta. The result: Casa Luna.

Casa Luna consists of a custom built, architect designed luxury B&B with glass-walled guest lounge and separate accommodation wing. Set overlooking a pretty valley and glorious vineyards, the four-and-a-half star air conditioned rooms are friendly, unobtrusive and truly luxurious.

The guest lounge features an open fire in winter, expansive views, private library and dining facilities. Gourmet breakfasts and dinners are cooked by in-house chef Gwenda Canty, with a focus toward regional produce and Italian food.

A food and wine lovers' heaven, Casa Luna is less than 20 minutes drive from attractions such as the King Valley wineries and restaurants, the Milawa gourmet region and Alpine National Park.

Location: 280km or three hours North East of Melbourne.



Essentials Magazine Article: Sweet Talkin' (Casa Luna sample)
by Lisa Maxwell

As Casa Luna chef Gwenda Canty and I discussed the ever-increasing popularity of the chilli-choc combination, I almost asked if she had any Tim Tams stashed in the cupboard, instead opting to wait for her own creation: a variation on the traditional Sicilian cassata cake, containing that winning combination chocolate and cheese.

‘Basically, a butter cake, layered with ricotta, chocolate and glace oranges, baby clementines, limes, lemons, then marzipan and lots of icing,’ Gwenda explained. ‘Very, very over-the-top, really. But divine.’

I considered myself extremely lucky that Gwenda’s variation – the Casa Luna Cassata – was also loaded with Lindt 85 percent cocoa chocolate and fresh ricotta, plus a hint of orange oil. ‘It’s not too sweet,’ she continued. ‘It’s very rich, but it doesn’t feel rich.’

Gwenda had also previously created the more traditional version: ‘My sister and I have made it for a function – and it’s a labour of love, I can tell you.’ As much in the consumption as the creation, I could only assume.