Leanne De Bortoli

Manager De Bortoli Winery & Restaurant Yarra Valley

Leanne has helped out at the family winery since a teen. She studied Wine Marketing at Roseworthy obtaining her Associate Diploma with honours. Today Leanne is a company director and manages the De Bortoli Yarra Valley Winery & Restaurant.

There were just 16 wineries in the Yarra Valley when the De Bortoli family led by Darren De Bortoli purchased their first vineyard in 1987. Darren drove to Coonawarra where Leanne and her winemaker husband Steve Webber were based to ask if they would like to manage the Yarra Valley project.

'We were so excited to be asked,' says Leanne. 'The plan was to make a range of premium wines and develop the vineyard.'

Building for the new restaurant and cellar door commenced in 1989. Today the award winning De Bortoli Winery & Restaurant is one of the premier wine and food attractions in the Yarra Valley and was inducted into the American Express Hall of Fame in 1998. A more recent addition is the new Cheese Room where visitors can taste and purchase cheese matured to perfection in the custom built maturation room. The project is overseen by renowned cheese man Richard Thomas.

The Yarra Valley vineyard extends to more than 450 acres, employs 80 people and processes 5,000 tonnes of grapes per year. Leanne’s roles include overseeing and directing the Restaurant and Cellar Door businesses, Public Relations for De Bortoli and the Yarra Valley region, marketing and product development.

Leanne is actively involved with Victorian tourism networks and in 2005 was appointed board member of the National Tourism Investment Strategy Consultative Group established to develop a national tourism strategy and advise the Federal Minister. Her roll call of community service is impressive as a committee member of the Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association and foundation member and current committee member of Yarra Valley Brand Group.

Regional marketer Anna Aldridge says: 'Leanne has taken a leading role in the region’s marketing. She is totally committed to developing an environmentally sustainable and distinctive regional brand for the Yarra and understands the importance of a clear regional message to consumers and the trade.'

Many clients, writers and chefs from Australia and overseas have enjoyed Leanne and Steve's  laid back hospitality – usually a simple barbeque or wood fired pizza - on the deck of their home overlooking the magnificent vineyards and the Great Dividing Range.

Leanne and Steve have two daughters.