Josep Espuga
Culinary Director, Pt. Leo Estate
Culinary Director, Josep Espuga, brings more than two decades of international experience to Pt. Leo Estate, where he oversees the two-hatted Laura restaurant, Pt. Leo Restaurant, Wine Terrace and Cellar Door. Outside of Pt. Leo Estate, Josep represents Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands on the Relais & Châteaux World Culinary Council, working alongside Chef Mauro Colagreco (Mirazur, France – three Michelin stars), advocating for sustainability and responsible resource use.
Hailing from Oliana, a small Catalonian town in Spain, Josep’s culinary career has traversed the globe. At age 13, Josep enrolled at a culinary school in Lleida, whilst working alongside his grandmother at the family’s brasserie, before going on to work under celebrated Spanish chef Joan Pallares at Can Boix in Peramola. Here, he learned a meticulous approach to culinary craft and developed exceptional pastry skills training with chefs Albert Adrià and Remon Morató.
At 20, Josep moved to Madrid to join the Michelin-starred La Broche, cutting his teeth under Chef Sergi Arola. Advancing from stagier to sous chef, his career continued to flourish with formative roles at some of Spain’s most esteemed restaurants, including Mugaritz, under Andoni Aduriz, before taking the role as Head Chef at Cal Xirricló in Balaguer, where he earned a listing in the Michelin Guide.
In 2010, Josep embarked on an international culinary journey, with pivotal chapters at Degustation in New York, Bohemian in Melbourne, Nahm in Thailand, Bommie Restaurant on Hamilton Island and time spent in Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. With each experience, Josep gained invaluable global knowledge on produce, cuisine, culture and a broader global perspective and appreciation for regional produce.
Now, based on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Josep oversees Pt. Leo Estate’s four hospitality offerings, whilst managing the culinary team. His philosophy is grounded in seasonality, sustainability and provenance – working closely with local farmers, foragers and producers – which shines through the hyper-seasonal, innovative and contemporary menus.
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About Laura
Two-hatted Laura restaurant is Pt. Leo Estate’s most refined expression of dining – a destination where food, wine, art, and nature converge. A proud member of the Relais & Châteaux family and holder of two chef hats for seven consecutive years, Laura offers an elegant culinary experience. Spearheaded by Culinary Director Josep Espuga, the restaurant showcases seasonally driven, sustainable menus that highlight the region’s finest produce and an award-winning wine list of over 600 wines, thoughtfully crafted to reflect both provenance and place.
Website: ptleoestate.com.au/dine/laura
Instagram: @laura_ptleoestate
Facebook: @laurarestaurant
About Pt. Leo Restaurant
Pt. Leo Restaurant is the estate’s most renowned dining space and is open daily. It offers views of the vineyard, Pt. Leo Estate’s Sculpture Park, and the ocean from Western Port to Phillip Island. Crafted by Culinary Director Josep Espuga, the à la carte menu celebrates the finest Mornington Peninsula produce, serving dishes from the wood-fired oven and chargrill, paired with an award-winning wine list.
Website: ptleoestate.com.au/dine/pt-leo-restaurant
About Wine Terrace
Wine Terrace at Pt. Leo Estate offers a relaxed, all-weather dining experience with sweeping views of the vineyard, Sculpture Park, and Western Port. Open Friday to Monday from 12 to 5 PM, guests can enjoy a curated selection of Pt. Leo Estate wines, local beers, and share-style seasonal dishes in a casual yet elevated setting.
Website: ptleoestate.com.au/dine/wine-terrace
About Cellar Door & Vespre Bar
Cellar Door at Pt. Leo Estate offers a relaxed tasting experience, showcasing the estate’s cool-climate wines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Gris. Sitting atop the bar with sweeping views of the Sculpture Park, the ocean and beyond, guests are invited to sit and sip on thoughtful wine tastings, along with small bar snacks.
On Saturdays from 5 to 8 PM, the cellar door transforms into Vespre Bar, inviting guests to watch the sunset and enjoy a tapas-style menu and award-winning wines.
For wine aficionados, Pt. Leo Estate Wine Club offers a two-year subscription, including a 20% discount on all wine purchases and three carefully curated wine packs per year of Pt. Leo Estate wines.
Website: ptleoestate.com.au/experience/cellar-door
About Pt. Leo Estate
Perched on the southern Mornington Peninsula coastline over 330 acres, Pt. Leo Estate is a destination where food, wine, art, and nature converge. The estate is home to a 50-acre vineyard, Australia’s largest privately owned sculpture park, and the world’s third largest, set against sweeping views of Western Port, along with two-hatted Laura restaurant, Pt. Leo Restaurant, the Wine Terrace and Cellar Door. Founded with a commitment to excellence, sustainability, and the arts, Pt. Leo Estate continues to define luxury on the Mornington Peninsula, offering unparalleled experiences that celebrate the region’s natural beauty, culinary innovation, and artistic vision.
Website: ptleoestate.com.au
Instagram: @ptleoestate
Facebook: @ptleoestate
About Sculpture Park
Pt. Leo Estate Sculpture Park is Australia’s largest and the world’s third largest privately owned sculpture park. The outdoor gallery sits on the estate's 330 acres of landscaped grounds, where visitors can explore over 16 acres of over 70 large-scale works by renowned Australian and international artists, including Deborah Halpern, Bruce Armstrong, KAWS, Yayoi Kusama, Inge King and most notably Jaume Plensa, whose striking seven-metre sculpture acts as Laura’s namesake. Winding paths offer panoramic views of Western Port and Phillip Island, and the gardens are open daily from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Website: ptleoestate.com.au/expereince/sculpture-park
For media enquiry, please contact:
Jasmine Geraridis | Reymond Communications
E: jasmine@reymond.com.au | M: +61 (0) 437 786 377
