De Bortoli Yarra Valley

In 1987, De Bortoli Wines purchased an existing vineyard and winery in Dixons Creek, acquiring some of the oldest plantings in the Yarra Valley. Third-generation family member Leanne De Bortoli and her winemaker husband Steve Webber moved to the estate in 1989 to take charge of operations. The decision followed the remarkable success of Noble One Botrytis Semillon in the early 1980s, which gave the family the confidence to pursue premium cool-climate winemaking. When the family entered the region, only a small number of wineries were operating in the Yarra Valley, making the move a genuine pioneering step in Australian fine wine. The estate is located at 58 Pinnacle Lane, Dixons Creek, approximately 50 km north-east of Melbourne.

• De Bortoli purchased an existing Yarra Valley vineyard and winery in 1987, with first plantings on the Winery Vineyard site dating to 1971
• Leanne De Bortoli and Steve Webber moved to the estate in 1989 and have managed it ever since
• The Yarra Valley venture was a strategic move to push the family brand into the premium cool-climate market, following the acclaim won by Noble One Botrytis Semillon

De Bortoli's Yarra Valley operation has elevated the region's international credibility by showing that Australian cool-climate viticulture can produce wines competitive with European benchmarks. As one of Australia's largest family-owned wine companies, De Bortoli brought scale and investment to the Yarra Valley at a critical period of growth in the 1980s and 1990s. Steve Webber's recognition as Gourmet Traveller WINE Winemaker of the Year in 2007 placed the estate at the top of Australia's fine wine conversation. The PHI Lusatia Park Pinot Noir 2022 won four trophies at the 2023 Victorian Wine Show, including Best Wine of Show, Best Red Wine of Show, and Best Pinot Noir of Show, confirming the estate's standing among Australia's elite Pinot Noir producers.

• Steve Webber named Gourmet Traveller WINE Winemaker of the Year in 2007 and appointed Chairman of Judges at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show in 2008
• PHI Lusatia Park Pinot Noir 2022 won four trophies at the 2023 Victorian Wine Show including Best Wine of Show
• The cellar door and Locale Restaurant have established De Bortoli as one of the Yarra Valley's leading wine tourism destinations

The Yarra Valley is located approximately 50 km north-east of Melbourne and is divided into two distinct subregions: the warmer Valley Floor and the cooler Upper Yarra. The region has one of the lowest mean January temperatures among Victorian wine regions at 18.9°C, with annual rainfall of 750-950mm over a seven-month growing season. De Bortoli's Lusatia Park Vineyard in the Upper Yarra sits on volcanic basalt at 240 metres above sea level, with iron-rich soils ranging from a thin dusting to depths of over 10 metres. The main Winery Vineyard at Dixons Creek, first planted in 1971, is now planted to over 170 hectares of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Varieties including Viognier, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Riesling round out the portfolio.

• Yarra Valley GI: 3,130 km², 2,837 hectares of vineyards; mean January temperature 18.9°C, annual rainfall 750-950mm
• Lusatia Park Vineyard: 18.7 hectares on deep volcanic basalt, north-facing at 240 m elevation, planted 1985 and purchased by De Bortoli in 2016
• Winery Vineyard at Dixons Creek first planted 1971; now over 170 hectares of cool-climate varieties led by Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah

De Bortoli's Yarra Valley range is structured across several tiers. At the entry level, La Bohème offers bistro-style Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Rosé for immediate enjoyment. The Estate Vineyard tier draws on the oldest vines at Dixons Creek, with the Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir fermented with wild yeast, parcels handled separately with some whole-bunch inclusion, 15-18 days of maceration, and maturation for six months in new and used 225L and 500L French oak casks. The single-vineyard Lusatia range and premium PHI and Riorret labels showcase fruit from the Lusatia Park and Abbey vineyard sites. The Melba range focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon from the Melba Vineyard at Dixons Creek. The Este label produces premium sparkling wines.

• Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir: wild yeast fermentation, 15-18 days maceration, six months in new and used 225L and 500L French oak casks
• PHI Lusatia Park Pinot Noir 2022 won Best Wine of Show at the 2023 Victorian Wine Show; Riorret range also sources from Lusatia Park and the Abbey Vineyard
• Portfolio spans La Bohème (bistro), Estate Vineyard, Lusatia, Melba (Cabernet), PHI, Riorret, and Este (premium sparkling) tiers

Steve Webber's philosophy centres on wines that speak of place rather than winemaking technique. Fruit is hand-harvested and sorted, with each small parcel fermented separately to preserve site character. The estate's approach to French oak is considered and measured, using both barrique (225L) and larger puncheon (500L) formats to support fruit expression without imposing wood flavour. De Bortoli was an early and serious adopter of sustainable viticulture; the company became a certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and was the first NSW business to achieve Sustainability Advantage Platinum status. The 17 TREES initiative, which began in 2008 by planting 17 trees for each company vehicle, has grown into a global tree-planting programme that has exceeded 69,000 trees planted.

• Wild yeast fermentation and separate parcel handling preserve site-specific character across all premium tiers
• Certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; first NSW business to achieve Sustainability Advantage Platinum status
• 17 TREES initiative launched 2008 to offset fleet emissions; has now planted over 69,000 trees globally

The Yarra Valley has a winemaking history stretching back to 1838, when the Ryrie brothers planted the first vines at Yering Station. After a mid-twentieth century hiatus, the region was reborn in the 1960s and 1970s. By the time De Bortoli arrived in 1987, the modern era was gaining momentum. Today the Yarra Valley has over 80 wineries and approximately 2,837 hectares under vine. De Bortoli operates as one of the largest estate producers in the region. The third generation of the De Bortoli family, including Managing Director Darren De Bortoli, Leanne (Yarra Valley and King Valley), Kevin (viticulture), and Victor (international business), leads the company. The fourth generation is now actively involved, with Kate Webber having joined the winemaking team at Yarra Valley in 2020.

• Yarra Valley wine history begins 1838 at Yering Station; modern revival began in the 1960s-70s; region now has over 80 wineries and 2,837 hectares under vine
• Third-generation leadership: Darren De Bortoli (MD), Leanne De Bortoli (Yarra and King Valley), Kevin De Bortoli (viticulture), Victor De Bortoli (international)
• De Bortoli owns four wineries: Riverina (Bilbul), Hunter Valley (Pokolbin), Yarra Valley (Dixons Creek), and Rutherglen, following acquisition of Rutherglen Estates in 2018