Leanne De Bortoli

Manager De Bortoli Winery & Restaurant Yarra Valley

Leanne has worked in the family business 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 De Bortoli Winery & Restaurant is one of the premier wine and food attractions in the Yarra Valley and was recently awarded 2008 Best Tourism Winery at the Victorian Tourism Awards. A recent addition is the 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.

Leanne’s roles are varied and 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. 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 their magnificent vineyards and the Great Dividing Range.