Stefano Lubiana, Granton, Hobart
Extract from JAMES HALLIDAY Australian Wine Companion 2008
After searching Australia,
fifth-generation winemaker Steve Lubiana selected Tasmania for his
cool-climate vineyard back in the early 1990s. His family’s winemaking
origins stem back to Trieste in Northern Italy.
Steve discovered a parcel of land overlooking the spectacular tidal estuary
of the Derwent River at Granton, a mere 20 kilometres north of Hobart.
The vineyard was first planted with the Burgundy varieties of Chardonnay and
Pinot Noir during the spring of 1991. From those humble beginnings, it has
expanded to 18 hectares of closely spaced vines, which now also comprise of
Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Riesling and Nebbiolo.
Despite its growth, Stefano Lubiana Wines remains a family-owned and
operated business, passionately focused on producing small quantities of
hand crafted, cool climate, Tasmanian wines.
Although Stefano Lubiana Wines produces Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Riesling,
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot, it is Steve’s sparkling for which
the label is perhaps best known.
Stefano Lubiana’s sparkling wines have claimed both national and
international praise. He produces three styles- a perfectly handled and
balanced Non Vintage (NV) style and a more complex Vintage Brut which spends
longer time on lees. Steve has also just released ‘Prestige:’ a 1995 vintage
with more than a decade on lees. Prestige is a refined style with aromatic
and textural complexity. Power, class and freshness combine on a perfectly
sublime palate with purity and balance. All three wines have been written up
in James Halliday’s 2008 Australian Wine Companion- the NV scoring 92
points, the 199 Vintage Brut 94 points and the Prestige features in
Halliday’s ‘Best of the Best by Variety’ with 95 points.
Steve Lubiana is also well known for pushing the boundaries of winemaking
techniques in Tasmania and is always exploring innovative methods to extract
maximum aroma, flavour and palate dimensions in his wines. He regularly
experiments with yeasts (wild and/ or inoculated) and uses whole bunch
fermentation where appropriate.
His business boasts a modern, state-of-the-art winery facility, capable of
processing up to 300 tonnes during vintage. The winery features a
temperature-controlled barrel hall to prevent temperature fluctuations
through varied season conditions. It also permits regulation of temperatures
during fermentation thus allowing better management of the process and
advancement in overall quality.
Steve also plays an active role in the Tasmanian wine industry as a Board
Director of Wine Industry Tasmania and Chairman of the WIT marketing
committee.
Stefano Lubiana Wines are distributed nationally to every state and
territory, and to a number of overseas countries. Demand just keeps growing.
NV Brut
“
From the Apple Isle comes this delicious traditional Champenoise with a
light gold colour and a fine bead. Its bouquet has aromas of cream, nuts,
honey and toast- its finish is dry and clean. It also has a vigorous mousse,
which is wine speak for lots of bubbles.”
Naren Young, Jet Star In flight magazine, April-May 2006
For accolades on NV refer to:
www.slw.com.au/slw/winereviewSparkling.htm
For product info/tasting notes on NV refer to:
www.slw.com.au/slw/documents/SLWNVBrut.pdf
Price: £17.95
Mr Whirly says
"Possibly the best Southern hemisphere sparkling in the UK? Delicate, small bubbles give this wine away as something special. The wine oozes class with dried mango, pineapple, apricots and a nutty and delicately creamy finish. This is a wine to be enjoyed with food."
2005 Pinot
Noir
“
Some time ago I reviewed Stefano Lubiana’s Primavera Pinot Noir- as the name
suggests a fresh and youthful expression of the variety. This is a more
sophisticated drop, showing the depth of a superior vintage with ripe
varietal definition, layered soft tannin structure and complexity. It’s a
wine that intrigues and holds your interest from first sip until last and
ought to develop with 5-6 years bottle age.”
Chris Shanahan, The Sunday Canberra
Times, 9th September 2006
“
Tasmania is still finding its feet as a winemaking state but Stefan Lubiana
is already well established. The 2005 Pinot is full of velvety soft tannins
and forest berry fruits. There’s more than a little Gamey complexity and it
continued to improve, a sign of its quality and cellaring potential. One of
the best Aussie Pinot’s I’ve tried……”
Fergus McGhie, The Canberra Times, 14th March 2007
Price: £25.45
Mr Whirly says
"This wine is possibly as balanced a wine as one could hope to taste. You can almost feel it perfectly balancing itself on each side of your mouth. Earthy berry fruit with a hint of dark chocolate. Tasmanian Pinot at its best made by this extraordinary winemaker "
Prices...
(all prices are per bottle and ex vat.
Unless stated the bottles are 750ml)
Whilst Whirly wine will endeavour to maintain prices
at the same level we reserve the right to change the prices of the wines
without given notice. This will invariably be due to the fluctuation of
currency rates and therefore beyond our control
Wines will be delivered, where possible, within 48 hours but this cannot be guaranteed. The majority of deliveries throughout the UK will be charged at a set rate of £9.95 plus VAT but this depends on the number of cases ordered and exactly where the delivery is to in the UK. Please ask for delivery rates at the time of ordering. Delivery from the “ Whirly Van” will be charged at £7.50 plus VAT.
Whirly wine reserves the right not to sell any wine to anyone who it suspects of being less than 18 years old