Stefano Lubiana Wines

Stefano Lubiana Wines is a pioneering winery in Tasmania, renowned for its commitment to biodynamic viticulture and for producing some of Australia's most highly-regarded cool-climate wines. Led by fifth-generation winemaker Steve Lubiana and his family, the winery's philosophy is a blend of a deep-rooted Italian winemaking legacy and a forward-thinking, environmentally conscious approach. They were the first certified biodynamic vineyard in Tasmania, a testament to their dedication to producing wines that are a pure expression of their unique Derwent Valley terroir.

Winemaking Philosophy & Methods

The core of Stefano Lubiana's philosophy is an unrelenting quest for perfection, achieved through meticulous attention to detail in the vineyard and minimal intervention in the winery.

  • Vineyard Management: The estate's north-facing vineyard is managed with a strict certified biodynamicapproach, which they have practiced since 2009. This means the vineyard is free of all synthetic treatments, additives, and pesticides. Instead, they use cosmic rhythms and natural preparations to ensure soil regeneration and vine health. This hands-on, holistic approach in the vineyard is seen as the key to producing high-quality fruit.

  • Harvest & Fermentation: Grapes are hand-picked and rigorously sorted. Fermentations are spontaneous, relying on indigenous yeasts from the vineyard to begin the process. They also utilize techniques like whole-bunch fermentation for Pinot Noir to add complexity and texture.

  • Additives & Filtration: Their approach is decidedly low-intervention. The wines are unfined and unfiltered, and the use of sulfur is minimal, if used at all, to preserve the freshness and purity of the fruit.

  • Aging & Vessels: Wines are matured in a combination of new and used French oak barrels, with the amount of new oak carefully managed to support the wine without overpowering the fruit and terroir character. They also experiment with aging in ceramic eggs for some of their skin-contact white wines, which adds a unique texture.

Grapes & Wines

Stefano Lubiana specializes in the classic Burgundian varieties, but also has a spirit of experimentation with other grapes.

  • Sparkling Wines: With a strong focus on sparkling wines, they produce a range of exceptional vintage and non-vintage brut and rosé. These wines, made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, are renowned for their finesse, complexity, and fine bead.

  • Pinot Noir: This is a flagship variety, and their Pinot Noirs have been internationally recognized, winning prestigious awards. The wines are known for their elegance, fragrant aromatics, and silken texture, with a distinctive savory and earthy character from the vineyard.

  • Chardonnay: Their Chardonnays are a pure expression of the cool-climate Derwent Valley, with a focus on minerality, tension, and texture.

  • Other Varieties: While their focus is on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they also produce wines from Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Merlot, and experiment with other varieties like the Austrian Grüner Veltliner and the Italian Malvasia and Blaufränkisch.