De Bortoli Wines has purchased the Lutasatia Park Vineyard at Woori Yallock in the Yarra Valley from the Shelmerdine family. The 18 hectare premium, mature vineyard will be handed over to De Bortoli after the 2016 harvest.

Lusatia Park is one of the most well known independent single vineyards in the Yarra Valley. The majority of the vineyard was planted in 1985 and currently sells fruit to a number of premium producers, including PHI (a collaboration between the De Bortoli and Shelmerdine families) and De Bortoli for Este Sparkling and Villages Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

“Since 1989, we have had the privilege of developing Lusatia Park Vineyard and we are most pleased that the De Bortoli family will further the reputation of this great site under their astute and imaginative custodianship”, vigneron and proprietor of Shelmerdine Vineyards, Stephen Shelmerdine AM said.

While A Block Chardonnay and B Block Pinot Noir are the property’s iconic vineyards, De Bortoli will continue to develop blocks C, D and E to premium close planted pinot noir vineyards, using Abel and other selected planting material later next year. A small plot of premium sauvignon will remain.

Managing Director and third generation winemaker at De Bortoli, Darren De Bortoli said the acquisition marks a new direction in the family’s winemaking.

“The purchase is part of our next generation plans to produce hand crafted, fine wine from family owned [and] selected single vineyards. Lusatia is one of these sites, along with our Abbey Vineyard at Tarrawarra and some of the more mature blocks at Dixons Creek”, Mr. De Bortoli said.

“We will continue to develop this vineyard into one of Australia’s best and most iconic vineyards. We think this site is equal to anything in Southern Victoria or Tasmania. It is a close planted north facing vineyard on deep volcanic red soils and is at an altitude of 240 meters. The oldest blocks are 30 years plus and are now producing quite special wine. We will limit yields even further to maximise quality.

Image: Members of the De Bortoli family with Kate and Stephen Shelmerdine.