The Markeas family behind the award-winning Mallee Estate wines is about to inject a dose of Greekness into the food and wine scene of Renmark, with the opening of a new Greek restaurant later this year.

Situated just a few kilometres from the successful 23rd Street Distillery housed in the old Renmano winery on Renmark Avenue, to help get the ball rolling and build the restaurant they will be using a $25,000 cellar door grant.

And, if their wine is anything to go by, the food is sure to be impeccable.

In an interview with local paper Adelaide Now, director and winemaker at Mallee Estate Jim Markeas revealed that a chef had already been hired and was in the process of learning Greek recipes from his mother Eleni.

“We’re building a commercial kitchen adjacent to the cellar door so we can have dining at the cellar door and alfresco dining under the veranda and on the lawn,” Mr Markeas said, adding that opening the eatery is a natural progression and a real chance to showcase their brand’s history.

Part of the wave of Greek immigrants to the region, it was in 1969 that his parents Eleni and Peter Markeas established their vineyard with shiraz grapes.

Since with the help of the next Markeas generation, their efforts have seen them go from strength to strength, producing 500 tonnes of their own grapes and exporting wines abroad to the US, China, and Hong Kong. In 2015, they received another award with Jim named Riverland Winemaker of the Year at the prestigious International Wine Competition in New York.

“Wine and food goes together; it’s part of brand building and teaching people how to appreciate wine and food and different cuisines,” Mr Markeas said.

“What you need to do is tell your story, how you started, where you come from; and we come from the biggest wine-producing region in Australia – we have the ideal Mediterranean climate here so we grow consistent quality year after year.”

For more information on Mallee Estate, visit malleeestatewines.com.au/