Enoteca Sileno, a renowned specialty grocer and wine seller in Melbourne, Australia, will shut its doors on June 1 after seven decades of operation. Established in 1953 by Luigi ‘Gino’ Di Santo, the store has played a key role in introducing Italian culinary delights to the Australian market, including gelato, panettone, and a variety of wines and foods.
Enoteca Sileno, a distinguished specialty grocer and wine seller in Melbourne, Australia, will cease operations on June 1 after 70 years in business. Established by Luigi ‘Gino’ Di Santo in 1953, the business has been a pivotal introduction point for Italian culinary products in Australia. Throughout its history, Enoteca Sileno has been instrumental in introducing items such as gelato, panettone, and various Italian wines and foods to the Australian market.
The store, which has been managed by Gino’s daughter Rosemary and her husband John Portelli for the last 40 years, announced the closure through a Facebook post. The couple expressed their desire to retire and focus on personal time after decades of growing the family business. They also indicated plans to work with their producers and clients to ensure a seamless transition for their product representation in Australia.
The business, launched amid an increasing Italian population in post-World War II Melbourne, initially imported a variety of Italian goods. It further expanded to include a public wine repository on Amess Street in 1982 and later moved to Lygon Street in Carlton North in 2004, where it added a restaurant.
Enoteca Sileno’s products will remain available online until they are sold out, as the Portellis express gratitude towards their customers and reflect on their contributions to Australia’s appreciation of Italian gastronomy.
