Enoteca Sileno, a specialty Italian food and wine business that has been a Melbourne staple for 71 years, has announced it will close its doors, leaving an extraordinary legacy behind.

Established by Italian immigrant Luigi “Gino” Di Santo in 1953, the business has been managed for the past four decades by his daughter Rosemary Portelli and her husband John.

In a sea of restaurant and business closures citing the unmanageable costs of running a business in Australia, the Enoteca Sileno closure has a more shining final chapter. As the Portellis both approach their 70th birthdays, the couple have decided to scale back operations and enjoy their golden years away from the shop.

Related story: Move over, Florida! Melbourne has been crowned the world’s top travel spot for retirees

It may be the end of an era for the cornerstone of Italian produce in Melbourne but the Di Santo and the Portellis walked so that the nation could run, describing their journey as an “epic culinary adventure” in a post on the business Instagram.

Their final day of trading is on June 1.

Enoteca Sileno’s products will continue to be available through their online store until the remaining stock is sold.

The store has been crucial in importing Italian wines, spirits, and various food items, and had built strong relationships with Italian suppliers.

Enoteca Sileno has been the go-to for Melburnians for celebrations, offering specialised items like panforte, Italian chocolates, and panettone. Luigi Di Santo originally started by importing goods and equipment like gelati makers and espresso machines from Italy in the 1950s, before opening the retail store in 1982, becoming the first place in Australia that specialised in Italian wines.

Enoteca Sileno is located at 920 Lygon Street, Carlton North. Shop online here.

Related story: JUST IN: World renowned Sydney restaurant Tetsuya’s to close for good after 37 years