Producer Focus – De Bortoli

Next in our series of producer deep dives is the incomparable De Bortoli Wines, a subject close to our hearts, albeit not in geographical terms. 

De Bortoli’s reputation as a world-class producer of dessert and fortified wines, notably the iconic Noble One, perhaps overshadows the sheer breadth of their still and sparkling portfolio. Add to this a consistent stream of ground-breaking innovation, both in trend-setting new styles and in their approach to holistic sustainability, and you have a winning combination.

The family’s historical base in Bilbul, Riverina, remains the company’s spiritual home and serves as the engine room for the production of Noble One Botrytis Semillon and port-style fortified wines. Bilbul was where Vittorio De Bortoli chose to settle and buy land to plant grapes and fruit trees upon his arrival from northern Italy in 1924. One hundred years later, the fourth generation of the De Bortoli family is now gearing up to make its mark on the company.

The De Bortoli territory has since expanded to five wine regions. In addition to Riverina, the Yarra Valley winery was added in 1987 – a prime location for premium, cooler-climate, and single-vineyard wines with a strong focus on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines. Rutherglen is a hub for fortified styles and premium still wines, with a Mediterranean climate that favours later-ripening varieties and allows for experimentation with different blends. Two new additions for us this year are the ‘Rhône Rangers’ Shelley’s Block white and Burgoyne’s Block red blends.

Vineyard sites in the Hunter (alongside a cellar door), Heathcote, and King Valley complete the picture, giving De Bortoli fans the opportunity to discover the great and good of Australian winemaking all under one ‘brand’ roof.

However, it is De Bortoli’s steadfast commitment to sustainability, an oft-overused word in our times, that truly sets them apart. Their shift towards biological farming practices, which deliver high-quality grapes while benefitting the environment, has been a driving force for the past twenty years. This philosophy of always going one step further has led to pioneering industry initiatives, in areas such as potassium recovery, water and waste management, and solar energy. De Bortoli’s recent certification with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia across all vineyard locations takes them another step closer to their ultimate goal of becoming a ‘Zero waste’ winery.

Tapping into trends such as chillable reds (Chill Bill, we salute you), no & low alcohol and spritzes galore are just another day at the office for the De Bortoli team.