Deen De Bortoli
Late Company Chairman
On Sunday 26th October 2003, Deen De Bortoli, Patriarch of the De Bortoli family and Chairman of one of Australia’s largest family owned wine companies De Bortoli Wines, died suddenly at his home in Bilbul NSW. Son of the founder Vittorio De Bortoli, Deen was loved and admired by all for his humble, generous nature and his dedication to the Australian Wine Industry. Deen was 67 years old and survived by his wife Emeri, their four children and nine grandchildren.
Deen was involved in the wine industry for more than 50 years. He commenced work at just 15 years of age leaving school to assist his parents Vittorio and Giuseppina run the family wine company. Deen was instrumental in the growth of the company and witnessed many innovations in the industry over the years including changes in wine styles, winemaking techniques and viticulture.
In the early days of Deen’s career, fortified wines were the major sector of the market. De Bortoli with its Italian heritage, was one of the first companies to lead the way in the production of dry table wines. During the 1960s and 1970s, a huge wine boom occurred in Australia and Deen released Vittorio Spumante onto the market. This fruity sparkling wine made in the traditional Italian style introduced a whole new generation to the joys of wine. The company has recently relaunched the Emeri sparkling range which is made in the same tradition.
During the 1980s Deen, together with his son Darren made a sweet white wine from botrytised semillon that has become Australia’s benchmark sweet white wine. It was originally released as "Sauternes", but in 1990 the wine was renamed “Noble One" - the result of a bilateral trade agreement with European Economic Community countries. The company also purchased a winery and vineyard in 1987 in the Yarra Valley which produces the company’s ultra premium table wines.
During the 1990s Deen established a large vineyard in the King Valley in North Eastern Victoria which supplies fruit for the Windy Peak, Deen and Sero labels. The most recent acquisition was a winery and vineyard in the Hunter Valley purchased in 2002.
While largely self taught, Deen had an instinct and passion for the industry. One of his most important contributions was his open-mindedness to new innovations in machinery and technology. An important example is refrigeration which revolutionised wine quality. De Bortoli was at the forefront in implementing the new technology without which the Australian wine industry would not be enjoying its present reputation.
In 1995 Deen was awarded the Graham Gregory Award for Services to the NSW Wine Industry. He is also the recipient of the Inaugural Golden Plate Award in recognition of his contribution to the wine industry in the Riverina. Another highlight for Deen was when De Bortoli was awarded Australia’s most prestigious trophy in 1997, the Jimmy Watson for 1996 Yarra Valley GS Reserve Shiraz.
Deen was a member of the Vine Improvement Society and with his son Kevin was actively involved in the management of the company vineyards. He was also involved in the MIA Sustainable Development Committee, primarily involved with land management issues including salinity control, drainage, recycling, and the streamlining of irrigation systems.
At the funeral service held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Griffith, longtime friend Peter Budd read his poem entitled 'Our Deen', which gives us an insight to the man who was Deen De Bortoli.