PASSING THE GLASS – CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF WINEMAKING
Ninety years ago, when Vittorio De Bortoli turned unwanted Shiraz grapes into wine for family and friends, little did he know he was starting one of Australia’s largest and best-loved family-owned wineries.
Vittorio had just bought a fruit farm near Griffith in the New South Wales Riverina region, a few years after emigrating from war-torn Northern Italy with dreams of building a better life and was soon joined by his fiancé Giuseppina. To mark 90 years and four generations of family winemaking, our De Bortoli Wines story has been captured in an emotive video. As key family members pass around a glass of wine, the short video brings to life the story behind each person’s commitment and unique talents and passions that continue to contribute to every aspect involved in building and running a true family business.
“Our family is incredibly proud to be carrying on the work of our grandfather Vittorio and our father Deen in pushing the boundaries of winemaking to produce premium wines that are enjoyable to everyone and which our business is known for,” says Darren De Bortoli, Managing Director of De Bortoli Wines.
“From our iconic Noble One, which is now one of the world’s most awarded wines, to igniting Australia’s love of pale, dry rosé with the Rosé Revolution, and producing exciting new wine styles for the modern adventurous wine drinker, we are committed to fulfilling their legacy to ensure De Bortoli Wines remains at the forefront of winemaking innovation.”
Recent new releases include Down The Lane, Woodfired and King Valley Prosecco, while classics like Villages, Windy Peak and Deen have been refreshed to carry the new brand identity. Launched in 2016, the new brand logo is designed to give our range of premium and distinctive wines a contemporary new look while staying true to the family heritage.
Now operating estates across five Australian winemaking regions in NSW and Victoria, sustainability is key to our philosophy of leaving a positive legacy for future generations. Over the past 12 years, we have led the industry with our quest to become a zero-waste winery, receiving numerous awards and accolades for our work on wise water management, energy efficiency and improved waste management. With a vision for a future where great wine and a healthy environment can be enjoyed by everyone, we are also embarking on a significant undertaking to convert 10 to 15% of the Riverina vineyards to organic in five years.
We will be celebrating our 90th milestone at the 2018 Good Food and Wine Show from June to October and across four states. We will also be releasing a special limited edition 90th Anniversary fortified wine in early June.
