By Dongyun Kwon
After a renowned cellar door and restaurant left Healesville, a local winery purchased the property to fill the gap and keep the Yarra Valley’s fame as Australia’s top wine region.
Yarra Glen-based winery, restaurant and wedding venue Zonzo bought the Innocent Bystander’s hospitality venue at 334 Maroondah Highway, Healesville to start a new journey.
Zonzo Estate director Rod Micallef said he was pleased to have acquired the building because the space would work perfectly for Zonzo.
“We purchased it because we were looking to have a home for our Zoncello (Limoncello Spritz) brand,” he said.
“It is very playful and fun, and we want to establish a venue that shows how that product is playful and fun.
“We have a lot of other new spritz products as well like Bellina and Cicchio.”
Zonzo is planning to renovate the property like a spritz bar including an Italian restaurant and a retail space.
At this stage, it’s not confirmed when Zonzo will unveil the new venue but the director hopes it to be “as soon as possible”.
Despite also serving Italian food, the same as the restaurant in Yarra Glen, the new Zonzo venue will showcase a unique menu, diversifying the experience.
Mr Micallef said he hoped to make the venue vibrant and attractive to locals as well.
“I don’t have a desire to open a franchise restaurant. It will still be Italian but the menu will be different,” he said.
“It’ll be something new and exciting for everyone to visit.
“We are in the process of trying to get permits to extend the outdoor area in the back. Hopefully, we can offer some more seats out there.”
Zoncello Limoncello Spritz has become one of Australia’s top-selling wine products within two years after it was launched.
It is the world first pre-mixed limoncello spritz.
The director said he was beyond excited to expand his business and his team.
“For me personally, it’s a beautiful thing to have the position that we can extend our restaurant offering,” Mr Micallef said.
“It’s nice that we’re committing to opening another venue in the local area in the Yarra Valley.
“Creating a new brand like Zoncello and opening its own venue is exciting for us.”
