Stefano Lubiana Pinot Gris 2023: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Textural & savoury

A beautifully textured biodynamic Pinot Gris from Stefano Lubiana’s Derwent Valley estate, showing the richer, more expressive side of the variety. It has a slight golden blush in the glass, with cut straw, rose perfume, pear, quince, Turkish fig, apricot and spice. Barrel fermentation, lees work and a touch of skin contact bring body, grip and savoury mineral detail, while the finish stays long, clean and refreshingly balanced.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable
• Crafted by Stefano Lubiana — Tasmania’s first and only certified biodynamic vineyard
• Cut straw, rose perfume, pear, quince, Turkish fig, apricot, spice and savoury minerality
• 100% estate-grown Pinot Gris from a single Derwent Valley block planted in 1991
• No current critic score or medal found for this stocked 2023 release
• 13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Slightly golden with a blush of pink, this Pinot Gris opens with cut straw, rose perfume and spice, then fills out with ripe pear, quince, apricot and Turkish fig. The palate is dry but generous, with luscious texture, phenolic grip and a savoury mineral thread from the gravelly Derwent Valley site. Ample tannin and acidity cut through the richness, leaving a long, clean finish with a quietly European shape.

Winemaking

The grapes are handpicked and processed quickly in small batches, with fermentation on full lees in 500L French oak puncheons. A portion of the fruit is chilled and left on skins for two nights, extracting subtle colour, tannin and phenolic structure. The wine rests through winter in the same puncheons before being bottled in early summer, giving it texture, grip and body while keeping the fruit and perfume clear.

Vineyard & Vintage

The Pinot Gris comes from a single estate block planted in 1991 on the western bank of the Derwent River. The site faces north and sits on gravel-based soil covered in red loam, with patches of old riverbed silt. The vineyard has been biodynamically farmed since 2010 and certified since 2013, and the mature vines now have deep root systems that help build flavour, structure and mineral detail. The 2023 release is 13.5% ABV, dry, with approximately 2 g/L residual sugar.

Why We Love It

This is Pinot Gris with real depth and interest: floral and pear-fruited, but also savoury, textural and quietly grippy. The skin contact and puncheon fermentation make it more substantial than a simple crisp white, while the Tasmanian acidity keeps it balanced. It is the kind of white that works beautifully when dinner has texture — roast chicken, pork, cheeses, greens, mushrooms or richer seafood.

Food Pairing

With pear, quince, apricot, rose perfume, spice and gentle phenolic grip, this Pinot Gris suits dishes with richness, herbs, soft cheese and savoury edges. It is especially good with white meats, pork, sautéed greens, mushrooms, roast vegetables and aromatic spice.

Try matching this wine with →

• Pork cutlets with pear and fennel — Find a Recipe
• Mushroom and gruyère galette — Find a Recipe
• Sautéed summer greens with lemon and almonds — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Pour it for long lunches, roast chicken, cheese boards, autumn dinners or evenings when you want a white with more texture than Sauvignon Blanc but more lift than Chardonnay.

Cellaring

Drink now to 2028. Stefano Lubiana gives this Pinot Gris a 3–5 year cellaring window, and the wine has the acidity, phenolic grip and fruit concentration to develop gently. Store it cool, dark and stable.

Producer

Stefano Lubiana is based in Granton in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley, where Steve and Monique Lubiana have built one of Australia’s leading biodynamic wine estates. The vineyard has been farmed biodynamically since 2010 and is recognised as Tasmania’s first and only certified biodynamic vineyard. The Pinot Gris block was planted in 1991 on the western bank of the Derwent River, and the wine is made in a more European, textural style using handpicked fruit, full-lees fermentation in French oak puncheons and a short period of skin contact.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy textural biodynamic whites with pear, citrus and savoury detail, these are lovely bottles to explore next:

• Same producer, fresh biodynamic Chardonnay with grapefruit and white peach — Stefano Lubiana Primavera Chardonnay
• Organic Cowra Pinot Gris with pear, white peach and bright acidity — Pig In The House Pinot Gris
• McLaren Vale Pinot Grigio with nashi pear and silky texture — Spring Seed Poppy Pinot Grigio

FAQ

What does Stefano Lubiana Pinot Gris 2023 taste like?

It tastes textural and aromatic, with cut straw, rose perfume, pear, quince, apricot, Turkish fig and gentle spice. The palate is generous and dry, with phenolic grip, savoury mineral detail and a long clean finish. It is fuller and more complex than a simple crisp Pinot Grigio.

Is this Pinot Gris dry or sweet?

This is a dry white wine, with approximately 2 g/L residual sugar and less than 1 gram of sugar per 100mL. The ripe pear, quince and fig notes give a generous impression, but the finish is not sweet. Tannin and acidity help cut through the palate’s richness.

What is the body, acidity and texture like?

The body is medium to full for Pinot Gris, with a luscious texture and gentle phenolic grip from the grape skins. Acidity is fresh and balancing rather than sharp. The result is a white wine with structure, savouriness and a long finish.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This is a certified organic and certified biodynamic Pinot Gris, not a No Added Preservative wine. It may contain sulphites, as most wines do, and organic/biodynamic wines are made to lower allowable sulphur limits than conventional wines. It is vegan suitable.

How should I serve Stefano Lubiana Pinot Gris?

Serve chilled but not icy, around 9–11°C, in a generous white wine glass. A slightly warmer pour will show more of the rose perfume, pear, quince and spice. No decanting is needed, but 10 minutes in the glass helps the texture and aromatics open.

What food pairs well with this Pinot Gris?

It pairs beautifully with white meats, pork, soft cheeses, sautéed greens, mushrooms, roast vegetables and richer seafood. The texture works with creamy or savoury dishes, while the acidity refreshes the palate. For a vegetarian match, try mushroom and gruyère galette or greens with lemon and almonds.

Can this Pinot Gris be cellared?

Yes, it can be cellared short-term. Drink now to 2028 for a balance of pear, quince, rose perfume and savoury texture. The producer gives the wine a 3–5 year cellaring window.

Is Stefano Lubiana Pinot Gris vegan friendly?

Yes, this wine is vegan suitable. It is also certified organic and certified biodynamic. It is a strong choice for drinkers who want a premium Tasmanian white with serious farming credentials and more texture than a standard crisp white.

Who will enjoy this wine the most?

This is ideal for drinkers who enjoy textural whites with pear, spice, florals and mineral detail. If you like Pinot Gris, Alsace-inspired whites, skin-contact-adjacent whites or fuller organic whites, this will suit you well. It is broader and more savoury than Pinot Grigio, but fresher than many rich Chardonnay styles.

Is this wine keto friendly?

Yes, this is a dry, low-sugar white wine with approximately 2 g/L residual sugar and less than 1 gram of sugar per 100mL. It can suit many keto-conscious drinkers looking for a premium organic white. Alcohol still contributes calories, so enjoy it mindfully as part of your broader plan.

(SKU: SL_PGr_CV)