Family Values: The Secret Ingredient at The Deck Café & Gartelmann Wines
The Deck Café and Gartelmann Wines have become one of the most popular stops in the Hunter Valley. Easily identifiable by the famous Magpie as you drive down Lovedale Road, there are several delectable reasons to explore everything on offer here.
Owned and operated by Matt Dillow, Chef/Restaurateur, Managing Director of Gartelmann Wines and President of the Lovedale Business Chamber, the estate is an exercise in ‘how to be successful’.
Dillow has been running The Deck Café for 13 years and purchased Gartelmann Wines in 2020 from founders Jan and Jorg Gartelmann, who established the cellar door and boutique winery in 1996. Since then, the café and cellar door have gone from strength to strength through the expansion of the spaces, development of the grounds, creation of new wines, winning new awards and offering more in terms of idyllic country food and wine experiences for all the family.
“When I first laid eyes on the estate, I fell in love with it and knew that one day I would own it,” said Matt. “I adore the bushland setting with the dam and outdoor seating that we’ve extended over the time I’ve been here. I want to continue the legacy that Jan and Jorg have left, and I think we’re doing that by focusing on quality and the relaxed, family-oriented atmosphere that so many enjoy.”
The Deck Café showcases a tapas-style menu and is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch, with locals’ nights for dinner once a month and private functions as booked. It’s become a favoured spot for family gatherings and local events, including the Lovedale Long ingredients and the handmaking of all bread, sauces and pasta onsite make for first-class dining.
When asked about the secret to his success, Matt says he’s just a chef turned business owner.
“I look after the property, make it inviting for people to visit. We care about the environment and our gardens. My animals, chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, geese, ducks and especially my two beautiful Alpacas, bring so much joy to a family day out.
“Perhaps one of the biggest secrets to success is my staff. We constantly have staff meetings, training days, and outings where we bond, and every year, we go away for three nights together. It’s an investment, and I’m pretty proud of what I’ve created. I believe in training the next generation.”
Matt’s food empire extends well beyond the café. He creates and sells the aptly named Matt’s Produce – this best-selling gourmet range includes Apple Balsamic Glaze, Rosemary and Parmesan Oil, Olive Tapenade, and so much more. He runs regular cooking classes, including Spanish Paella, Classic French or Italian and Kids in the Kitchen. Perhaps the ultimate food experience offered by Matt is his range of annual Food Tours to Tasmania, South Australia, Margaret River, Italy, Spain and Malta. Every trip sees approximately 20 people per tour travel with Matt, indulging in extraordinary culinary delights, taking cooking classes, exploring history and culture and visiting local markets, farms, and wineries. They are already taking bookings for 2026.
“I have a saying,” said Matt.
“You come as friends but leave as family, and this applies all across my business."
Family is a definite focus with Matt continuing the Gartelmann Wines tradition of naming wines after family members and the cellar door featuring a brand-new family portrait by artist Tanya Loviz. Operations Manager Jim Smith, who began his 20-year career at Tulloch Wines and oversees almost every aspect of the business's wine production, believes that Gartelmann Wines has its own style.
“We believe in creating wines that are palate pleasing and food friendly. It’s a balance between creating wines that have the complexity to win awards but are also immediately drinkable with softer tannins and no need for cellaring.”
Building on tradition and making a great brand even better has seen the team branch out into new varietals, creating the Artisan Range of small-batch boutique wines that sit between the Reserve and Premium ranges.
The 2024 Gartelmann Del's Picpoul, named after Matt’s youngest sister, has won several awards, including a Gold Medal at the 2024 NSW Wine Awards. A Rhone varietal with fruit sourced from the Central Ranges, it’s renowned as the wine to enjoy with oysters.
“Winning awards is wonderful recognition for the team, but it’s also a way for us to see where we sit amongst our peers. We know we’re doing great when we provide award-winning quality at affordable prices,” said Jim.
The grapes are meticulously sourced from the Lower and Upper Hunter Valley, Mudgee, Rylstone, Canowindra and Orange regions of New South Wales. A new release that the team are excited about is the 2024 vintage of the Gartelmann Isabella’s Barbera, an Italian varietal with fruit grown in Orange. In terms of the classics, the 2024 Gartelmann Benjamin Semillon has recently won several awards, including the Best 2024 Semillon Trophy at the 2024 Hunter Valley Boutique Wine Show. Similarly, the 2024 Gartelmann Jessica Verdelho won the Best 2024 Verdelho Trophy at the 2024 Hunter Valley Boutique Wine Show and is widely recognised as the most popular wine sold at Gartelmanns.
There are always new events being planned at the estate, and in March 2025, the highly anticipated ‘From the Vault’ will take place on Friday, 14 March, for members, showcasing a range of Trophy and award-winning wines from the past ten years of Gartelmann winemaking, with an exceptional menu to accompany this vertical tasting. For those visiting the cellar door, there are a number of different tasting options available, including Blending Masterclasses, standard, extended and reserve wine tastings and the recently added ‘Build your Own Charcuterie Board’ option to accompany your tasting.
Matt’s work as the President of the Lovedale Business Chamber means that he is always supporting other business owners in the region to help drive visitation for all. This year, the Chamber is planning a Taste of Lovedale, a family- and pet-friendly food and wine festival kicking off at Wandin Estate in March and returning for a spring event at Saltire Estate in October.
If you only have time to visit one estate in the Hunter Valley, you can’t go wrong with the Deck Café and Gartelmann Wines, right in the heart of Lovedale, where you will be warmly welcomed and made to feel like one of the family.
