After spending his childhood immersed in vineyards and olive groves in the quaint village of Lonnano, Tuscany, Stefano Stefani’s passion for wine took off, reaching the same heights of his family before him. This passion stuck around as Stefani became a devoted collector of wines, and later when he moved to Australia after meeting his wife Rina in 1981. Some two decades later, Stefano’s passion has been manifested in his Yarra Valley property, where he and Rina began to grow beautiful vineyards.

Stefani Estate has since specialised in the cool climate grape varieties of wines, with an emphasis on Italian varietals such as sangiovese, malvasia, mammolo nero and nebbiolo. In total, the estate produces twelve different varieties of wine each year. From the unwooded fruity wine varieties in the vigna range to the traditional estate wines matured in French oak barrels, these exquisite wines come from the highest vineyard site in the Yarra Valley.

The 20-hectare vineyard that comprises Stefani Estate is divided by three separate sites – The View, The Gate and Belaradah – each carefully and strategically positioned with the various grape varieties in mind for optimum results. Viticulture practices honour the surrounding environment, including pruning and harvesting by hand, while producing outstanding grapes.

Winemaker Peter Mackey brings a world of experience to Stefani Estate, incorporating what he has learnt in New Zealand, France, Chile and other countries to create stunning wines that delight the palate of every wine lover. Stefani Estate has won several awards for these wines, including the 2020 Yarra Valley Wine Show’s Best Alternative White for the 2019 Pinot Blanc. The winery has also been awarded five stars by the James Halliday Wine Companion for the last ten years.

The cellar door is situated in the Belaradah vineyard, offering a lovely outdoor seating area, with tastings accompanied by charcuterie platters and fresh wood-oven baked foccacia bread. For the truly dedicated wine enthusiast, on-site accommodation is also available.