Perched high above Port Phillip Bay, Blue Range Estate is a surprising find. The journey involves travelling through the back blocks of Rosebud’s sprawling suburban hinterland, housing estates that scramble up the foothills of Arthur’s Seat in search of that all important bay view. Following the signs, a narrow gravel track winds up the side of the range, and eventually a sea of white net covered vines indicate you have arrived. The winery, with its cosy tasting room and raised platform deck with market umbrellas, is a fine place to fritter away a sunny afternoon with a wine and a snack.
Blue Range is not like the other wineries in the nearby Red Hill wine district. It is unpretentious with very friendly service, a small wine tasting area and an outside dining area. Franc De Cicco and his wife Filomena established the winery 30 years ago. Frank must have been a very industrious man, as he also ran a cheese factory in Coburg, an inner Melbourne suburb of Melbourne. The winery is now run by the Melone family, Cosi, Jo and their four children.
My sister and I often travel up to this winery in the sky to share a light lunch and a bottle of wine, thanks to our obliging chauffeurs! The menu is made up of spuntini, small bites of light Italian style dishes designed to go with the wine. The food is simple and tasty, but I doubt that much of it is house made. It’s cheap and works well with the sensational wines. We ordered the calamari fritti, the arancini, and Tuscan sausage with artichoke, a bottle of the 2009 chardonnay and the sensational vista was free. Other menu offerings include flat breads with various toppings and antipasto platters.
The vineyard produces Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. The wine list consisted of aged wines from 2009 to 2010: no youngies on the list at all. The 2009 vintage wines were made by Frank the founder, while some of the 2010 wines were made by a visiting Italian winemaker. I suspect the current grape crops are sold to nearby wineries. It’s a great place to visit if you want to taste an 8-year-old Pinot Noir, which is an exceptionally good drop.
It’s a good idea to do a full wine tasting before you choose a bottle to go with your bites. A tasting puts you in a festive mood and the sommelier or assistant needs to be well-informed and cheery. This young member of the Melone family was the perfect host, with lots of great stories to go with it. His Italian ancestors came from Benevento, the city of witches in Campania. There are some great folkloric legends about this region, a new little Italian nugget for me to explore further.
Cellar Door open from Thursday to Sunday 12pm-4pm (weather dependent, alfresco dining)
Address: Blue Range Estate, 155 GARDENS ROAD, ROSEBUD.VICTORIA. Ph 59 866560
ALMOST ITALIAN 
How delightful signora
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks fabulous, I can’t wait for the warmer weather so we can walk through the vineyards covered in leaves and fruit again and visit a few as well I hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah yes, the French vineyards will be waking up as ours are turning yellow and red with autumn. I have now booked all our little stays in France and Italy- so excited!!!!xx
LikeLike
How lovely to be able to sit down with sputini and a good wine half a world away from where you expect to find it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it was a surprise to find it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great Pictures i must say. Too much efforts. As an photographer i knew how difficult sometimes to click photos like this. So i always wanted to help new photographer so that they could not face such difficulties. So i decided to write some tips and blogs for them at https://www.behance.net/NitinKhannaOR so that they could learn from good photographers like you. Have a look and let me know if something is missing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can breathe the air in your photos. Thank you for sharing your wonderful pictures. The vineyards and the lovely restaurant must be spectacular! I can only imagine it! ☘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly.
LikeLike
Sounds gorgeous. If we’re ever down that way …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, keep it in mind goanna.
LikeLike
Looks like many a balmy afternoon could be wiled away at this gorgeous place. Save me a seat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seat reserved for you, with a view.
LikeLike
Wow I can only imagine how good the vista is! Wonderful pics Francesca 😃 The food looks very yummy too! Good to know that you girls had chauffeurs 😃
LikeLike
Girls need chauffeurs in their lives. I like it when they wear hats.
LikeLike
Jelly! Nothing but lots of yucky fruit wines in the wet tropics!
LikeLike
Hahha, fruit wines, fruit and lovely tropical rain.
LikeLike
Looks like a beautiful little winery! So far I’ve only been to Zonzo’s estate, however I’m always on the look out for new places to visit 🙂 Thanks for sharing
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its well worth a visit Kim- just ring first to check that its open.
LikeLiked by 1 person