I grew up in Mildura & I get very upset if larger conglomerates move on in, shut down the smaller local businesses & change the feel of my gorgeous home town but Varapodio Estate is NOT one of these, in fact it's the exact opposite all together!
After a drive around voicing my disappointment about some apparent 'advancements' made in the last 5 years since my last quick visit, a friend suggested they could take me somewhere that would restore my faith.
Driving through the impressive gates of Varapodio Estate the first thing I noticed was that it has a very relaxed feel about it & I suddenly felt transported to the delicious Italian countryside - something about being surrounded by olive trees, the gorgeous sunny day & laughter coming from inside the café made me immediately comfortable!
It was a busy time but the owners Donna & Joe made a real effort to attend to each of us individually & as Joe led us through a very informative (& delicious) product tasting we got chatting about how the café came to be & I learned that this family owned business is a very clever take on diversification in an often harsh environment.
The café is brimming with purchase options - from the estates' own divine olive oils (made on-site), high quality soaps & creams, afternoon tea selections & items from surrounding producers, I opted for a couple of gift bags of award winning infused oils & am now addicted to their caramelised balsamic vinegar!
Varapodio Estate has such a unique & respectful nod to family history that honours the bond of family & the land. I loved this place!
My top tips are:
1.) Make sure you take the time to sit on the veranda at the front of the café overlooking the olive trees, it's really pretty special & wish I'd seen it at night!
2.) Take a few minutes to learn about the oils from the owners - it's really interesting & at the same time you get to sample each one!
3.) Grab a bottle of the caramelised balsamic vinegar & the augmented lemon & lime oil too..these are my two faves & as I can't just pop in to get another bottle Joe has agreed to supply me via mail! read more