Da Bepi’s Is Pouring Free Wine for Nonnas This April

Brunswick East’s Venetian wine bar Da Bepi’s is giving Melburnians a reason to rethink their Thursday nights this April, and it goes beyond a well-priced plate of pasta.

Across the month, the venue will host “Nonna’s $20 Pasta Night”, where every pasta on the menu drops to $20. But the real incentive is a little more personal: bring your nonna, or any family matriarch, and she’ll be welcomed with a complimentary glass of house wine.

The idea comes from a place of loss and connection. In the week the venue opened, co-owners and brothers Matthew and Anthony Lucato’s grandmother passed away in Italy, with the family unable to make it back in time to say goodbye.

“We loved having Nonna around,” Anthony says. “We grew up spending time with her, hearing her stories, and then suddenly, you don’t get that anymore.”

For the brothers and team, the promotion isn’t just about filling seats. It’s about creating a moment — one that encourages people to bring their elders out, sit across the table from them, and actually spend time together.

“It’s a bit of a nuff thing, sure,” he admits. “But if we get even one table where someone brings their nonna in and shares that time, hears a story from back in the day, or creates a new memory, then that’s our job done.”

The offer is deliberately accessible. A couple of pastas and a drink can come in at under $50, making it easier to turn a simple dinner into something more meaningful.

On the menu, the line-up leans classic and comforting. Think thick-cut bigoli tossed through a rich anchovy and onion salsa, a spicy amatriciana built on tomato sugo and guanciale, and a traditional carbonara finished with egg and cured pork. There’s also duck and leek ravioli served with truffle butter, and a house lasagna based on Nonna Maria’s, the brothers’ other nonna, own recipe. The pasta itself is made fresh by Melbourne producer Piera Pasta Fresca, known for its traditional, handmade approach.

The complimentary wine includes Tempus Two Prosecco NV, The Gathering Sangiovese 2024 and The Gathering Pinot Grigio 2024.

Importantly, “nonna” isn’t being taken literally. Whether it’s a yia-yia, teta, nan, or simply someone who holds that place in your life, the invitation is open to honour all matriarchs.

“It’s not really about where someone’s from,” Anthony says. “It’s about that person in the family — the one who’s always there, cooking and creating, often without recognition.”

Running every Thursday through April, the concept taps into something often overlooked: the opportunity to spend time with the people who raised us while we still can. While $20 pasta might get people through the door, it’s the conversation across the table that stays with you afterwards.

Da Bepi is located at 391 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Still hungry? Continue the carb trail with our guide to Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants, then book your next night out with our pick of the best wine bars in Melbourne.