Interview with Deen deBortoli [sound recording] Interviewer: Rob Linn, Part 1 of 2
Deen De Bortoli was born in Australia after his parents migrated from Italy in the late 1920s. Beginning his employment as a labourer, Father Vittorio was eventually able to save enough money to buy his own tract of land, and began a career as a market gardener and later wine maker. After the deterioration of his father's health, Deen took over the flourishing family winery in the late 1950s, which he still administered at the time of interview. The discussion here tells the story of the development of the De Bortoli winery, as well as offering a wider insight into the evolving and expanding industry in Australia. Discussion Topics Side A: Father's personal history. Motivations for the move to Australia. Development of Father's career. Academic achievements. The place of wine in family life. Developing the wine business. Modernising machinery. Grape varieties. The problem of limited expertise in winemaking. The challenge of market demands. Working with stainless steel. Early refrigeration techniques. The manufacture of marsala. Side B: Responding to changing market demands. The rise of Chardonnay. Business expansion. The wine glut of 1974. Persecution of family during WWII. Distribution networking. The impact of the growing overseas market. Producing cask wines. Current market demands and wine pricing.
Recording length58 minsCopies may be made for research and study. Publication only with written permission from the State Library.
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