Media Release, July 2025
For over 160 years, the Rutherglen wine region in North East Victoria has been synonymous with one thing: world-class Muscat. Revered globally for its richly complex and age-worthy fortified wines, Rutherglen has cemented its place in Australia’s winemaking history as a region of expertise, character, and tradition. And while Muscat remains its signature, the region is also celebrated for producing bold, full-bodied reds with richness and depth. But Rutherglen’s story is extending well beyond what’s resting in the barrel.
A new chapter is being written by the region’s winemakers and growers, who are demonstrating that there’s more to Rutherglen than what it’s traditionally known for. This evolution was recognised at the 2025 National Wine Show of Australia, where De Bortoli Wines’ 2024 One Line Pinot Grigio was awarded the Best Pinot Gris/Grigio of Show Trophy. The accolade adds to a growing list of achievements for the One Line range: the 2024 Tempranillo received a Gold Medal at the 2025 Cairns Wine Show and Silver Medals at both the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine & Spirit Competition, while the 2024 Sangiovese was also awarded Silver.
Together, these results spotlight a quiet shift happening in the region, where a wider range of varietals and styles are emerging alongside Rutherglen’s long-standing icons. With warm days, cool alpine-influenced nights and long, dry autumns, the region provides ideal conditions for producing a growing diversity of wine styles.
“This trophy is a win for Rutherglen as much as it is for De Bortoli,” said Marc Scalzo, Chief Winemaker. “When people think of the region, they often think of fortifieds or big, bold reds and rightly so. But Rutherglen is so much more than that. With the One Line range, we’re exploring what else is possible. The potential here goes well beyond what the region has always been known for.”
And while the region’s winemaking future broadens, its foundations remain as strong as ever. De Bortoli’s Rutherglen Estate Muscat was recently awarded a Gold Medal with 95 points at the 2025 International Wine and Spirits Competition in London, a powerful reminder that Rutherglen’s fortified wines continue to sit among the world’s finest.
With over 185 hectares of vineyards in the region, De Bortoli continues to invest in Rutherglen’s future, balancing innovation with respect for tradition. “Rutherglen will always be the home of Muscat and powerhouse reds,” said Scalzo. “But it’s also a place of potential. We’re not looking to change what the region stands for, we simply hope to contribute to its evolving story.”
-ENDS-
Media Contact: Kruti Shetty
kruti_shetty@debortoli.com.au
About De Bortoli
De Bortoli Wines is a family wine company established in 1928, and today is under the custodianship of the third generation, Darren, Leanne, Kevin and Victor De Bortoli. Theirs is a story of a hardworking and innovative family who considered good wine, good food and good friends to be part of everyday life. De Bortoli's philosophy is that great wine begins in the vineyard and should reflect the region where the grapes that made it are grown. For further information: debortoli.com.au.
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