De Bortoli Yarra Valley

De Bortoli Wines was founded in 1928 by Vittorio De Bortoli, an Italian immigrant from the Friuli region, and his wife Giuseppina in Bilbul in the New South Wales Riverina. The company grew through the twentieth century into one of Australia's largest family-owned wine producers, with major success in the early 1980s coming from Noble One Botrytis Semillon, an Australian dessert wine modelled on Sauternes that won international acclaim and provided the financial confidence and reputation to pursue premium cool-climate viticulture. The Yarra Valley move came in 1987 when De Bortoli purchased an existing vineyard and winery at Dixons Creek, acquiring vine plantings that dated to 1971 (some of the oldest in the modern Yarra Valley). Third-generation Leanne De Bortoli and her Burgundian-trained winemaker husband Steve Webber relocated to the estate in 1989 and have led operations continuously since. At the time of the move, only a handful of wineries were operating in the Yarra Valley, making the family's commitment a genuine pioneering step in Australian cool-climate fine wine. Webber's Burgundian training, his deep engagement with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and his championing of cool-climate single-vineyard work have defined the Yarra Valley operation across the past three decades.

• De Bortoli Wines founded 1928 in Bilbul, NSW Riverina, by Italian immigrants Vittorio and Giuseppina De Bortoli
• Early 1980s: Noble One Botrytis Semillon achieves international acclaim; provides financial confidence and reputation for premium cool-climate expansion
• 1987: De Bortoli purchases existing Yarra Valley vineyard and winery at Dixons Creek; vine plantings date to 1971
• 1989: third-generation Leanne De Bortoli and Burgundian-trained winemaker husband Steve Webber relocate to estate; have led operations continuously since

De Bortoli's Yarra Valley operation farms more than 240 hectares across three distinct vineyard sites that capture the breadth of the region's character. The Winery Vineyard at Dixons Creek (in the Lower Yarra) is the home estate, with first plantings dating to 1971 and now over 170 hectares under vine across Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Riesling. The Abbey Vineyard at Tarrawarra sits in the central Yarra Valley and provides additional Lower Yarra fruit for the premium tiers, including the Riorret single-vineyard range. The Lusatia Park Vineyard at Woori Yallock in the Upper Yarra is the estate's most prized single-vineyard site: 18.7 hectares on north-facing volcanic basalt at 240 metres elevation, planted in 1985 and acquired by De Bortoli in 2016. The deep iron-rich basalt soils, cool Upper Yarra elevation, and north-facing aspect combine to produce some of Australia's most distinctive Pinot Noir, anchoring the premium PHI and Riorret ranges. The estate's combined holdings make De Bortoli one of the Yarra Valley's largest premium producers while maintaining single-vineyard discipline across the top tiers.

• Winery Vineyard, Dixons Creek (Lower Yarra): first planted 1971; over 170 hectares; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, plus alternative varieties Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Riesling
• Abbey Vineyard, Tarrawarra (central Lower Yarra): provides additional fruit for premium tiers including the Riorret single-vineyard range
• Lusatia Park Vineyard, Woori Yallock (Upper Yarra): 18.7ha north-facing at 240m, volcanic basalt with iron-rich soils, planted 1985, acquired 2016
• Total Yarra Valley holdings exceed 240 hectares; makes De Bortoli one of the Yarra Valley's largest premium producers

Steve Webber's winemaking philosophy is grounded in Burgundian tradition and emphasises wines that speak of place rather than winemaking technique. Fruit is hand-harvested and sorted, with each parcel from each block fermented separately to preserve site-specific character. Premium-tier red wines (including Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, PHI Lusatia Park Pinot Noir, and Riorret single-vineyard Pinot Noirs) ferment with wild yeast, employ selective whole-bunch inclusion calibrated by vintage and vineyard, and undergo 15-18 days of maceration with hand plunging in small open vessels. Maturation in French oak uses both barrique (225 litre) and larger puncheon (500 litre) formats to support fruit expression without imposing wood flavour, with approximately six months in barrel before bottling. Chardonnay is whole-bunch pressed directly to French oak barriques for natural fermentation, with extended lees contact and selective malolactic fermentation tuned to vintage character. The house style emphasises elegance, aromatic precision, and structural depth over weight or extraction, reflecting Webber's Burgundian framework and the estate's commitment to cool-climate fine wine. Fourth-generation Kate Webber, who joined the winemaking team in 2020 after vintages in Burgundy and Napa Valley, has continued the tradition.

• Wild yeast fermentation across all premium red wines; selective whole-bunch inclusion calibrated by vintage and vineyard
• 15-18 days maceration in small open vessels with hand plunging; maturation in French oak 225L barriques and 500L puncheons
• Chardonnay whole-bunch pressed to French oak barriques for natural fermentation; extended lees contact; selective malolactic fermentation
• Steve Webber Burgundian-trained; named Gourmet Traveller WINE Winemaker of the Year 2007; fourth-generation Kate Webber joined team 2020 after Burgundy and Napa vintages

De Bortoli's Yarra Valley range is structured across five principal tiers, ranging from accessible bistro-style wines to premium single-vineyard releases. La Boheme is the entry-level tier, offering Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Rose for immediate enjoyment with light whole-bunch ferment and short oak ageing. The Estate Vineyard tier draws from the oldest vines at Dixons Creek (1971 plantings) and produces wild-yeast fermented Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Shiraz in the estate house style. The Single Vineyard Lusatia range sits in the middle premium tier, sourced exclusively from the Upper Yarra Lusatia Park Vineyard. PHI is the premium single-vineyard label: PHI Lusatia Park Pinot Noir 2022 won four trophies at the 2023 Victorian Wine Show including Best Wine of Show, Best Red Wine, and Best Pinot Noir, confirming De Bortoli's standing among Australia's elite Pinot Noir producers. Riorret completes the premium tier, offering separate single-vineyard releases from Lusatia Park, the Abbey Vineyard, and other identified sites. The Melba range focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends from the Melba Vineyard at Dixons Creek. The Section A8 and A9 single-vineyard wines and the Rococo Riserva round out the premium portfolio. Este is the dedicated premium sparkling wine label.

• La Boheme (entry): Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Rose; bistro-style with light whole-bunch ferment and short oak ageing
• Estate Vineyard: wild-yeast fermented Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz from 1971-planted Dixons Creek vines; estate house style
• PHI Lusatia Park Pinot Noir 2022: four trophies at 2023 Victorian Wine Show including Best Wine of Show, Best Red Wine, Best Pinot Noir
• Riorret single-vineyard, Melba Cabernet, Section A8 and A9 single-vineyard wines, Rococo Riserva, and Este sparkling complete the premium portfolio

De Bortoli has been an early and serious adopter of sustainable viticulture across all four of its Australian wineries. The Yarra Valley estate is a certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, and the broader De Bortoli Wines group was the first NSW business to achieve Sustainability Advantage Platinum status from the NSW state government. The 17 TREES initiative, launched in 2008 to plant 17 trees for each company vehicle to offset emissions, has now exceeded 69,000 trees planted globally and has become one of Australia's most cited corporate carbon offset programs. The Yarra Valley operation employs organic and biodynamic-leaning vineyard practices including cover cropping, composting, and reduced chemical inputs. The De Bortoli family business now operates four wineries across four Australian regions: the original Riverina home at Bilbul, the Yarra Valley estate at Dixons Creek, the Hunter Valley operation at Pokolbin, and Rutherglen Estates (Rutherglen, North East Victoria) acquired in 2018. Third-generation leadership comprises Managing Director Darren De Bortoli, Leanne De Bortoli (Yarra Valley and King Valley operations), Kevin De Bortoli (viticulture), and Victor De Bortoli (international business). Fourth-generation winemaker Kate Webber represents the future of the Yarra Valley operation. The family business ranks among Australia's largest family-owned wine producers.

• Certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; first NSW business to achieve Sustainability Advantage Platinum status
• 17 TREES initiative launched 2008: now over 69,000 trees planted globally; one of Australia's most cited corporate carbon offset programs
• Four Australian wineries: Riverina (Bilbul), Yarra Valley (Dixons Creek), Hunter Valley (Pokolbin), Rutherglen (Rutherglen Estates acquired 2018)
• Third-generation leadership: Darren De Bortoli (MD), Leanne De Bortoli (Yarra Valley and King Valley), Kevin De Bortoli (viticulture), Victor De Bortoli (international); fourth-generation Kate Webber (winemaking)