The Riverina wine industry has launched a new annual award honouring the legacy of Deen De Bortoli and recognising the next generation of wine industry leaders, with applications now open for the inaugural Deen De Bortoli Riverina Young Achiever Award.

Developed by the Riverina Winemakers Association and proudly sponsored by the De Bortoli family, the award has been named in honour of Deen De Bortoli, a second-generation family member whose contribution to the family's winemaking legacy helped shape the business into what it is today.

The award is open to applicants aged 18 to 35 working across any sector of the Riverina wine industry, including viticulture, winemaking, marketing, sales, export, research and development, logistics, and hospitality and wine tourism. It is designed to recognise outstanding contributions, celebrate leadership, and create genuine opportunities for professional development within the industry.

With technology continuing to reshape the wine sector, this year's award places a particular focus on innovation. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate how they have embraced or developed new technologies to improve efficiencies within their business, reflecting the pace of change across the industry today.

Darren De Bortoli, CEO of De Bortoli Wines, said: "Deen was always curious. He loved understanding how things worked and was genuinely excited by new ideas, especially when they came from younger people. He spent countless hours with growers, learning, listening and looking for better ways of doing things, and he wasn't afraid to back an idea others didn't yet understand.

That's the legacy we wanted to honour through this award. We hope it recognises young people with that same curiosity, willingness to learn and confidence to think differently, because that's exactly what Deen encouraged."

Madeleine De Bortoli, fourth-generation member of the De Bortoli family and the driving force behind Riverina NextGen Wine Network, said: "As a fourth-generation member of the De Bortoli family, I feel a responsibility to help create opportunities for the next generation of our industry. I saw an opportunity to create something that recognises the achievements of my peers while inspiring the next generation of industry leaders.

My Nonno, Deen, believed in backing new ideas and encouraging people to think differently, particularly during times of change driven by new technologies. That's why we've chosen innovation as this year's theme. I hope this award inspires young people to embrace change, bring fresh ideas and have the confidence to help shape the future of the Riverina wine industry."

Executive Officer of the Riverina Winemakers Association, Carrah Lymer said: "The Riverina has always punched above its weight when it comes to talent, and this award gives us a real opportunity to shine a light on the people driving our industry forward. We're proud to support an award that celebrates the full breadth of what makes this region special — not just the wine in the glass, but the people behind every part of the journey it takes to get there. Deen's legacy of curiosity and backing new ideas reflects exactly the kind of spirit we want to see in the next generation of Riverina wine leaders." 

Applications for the Deen De Bortoli Riverina Young Achiever Award are open now and welcome applicants from across the industry's full value chain, not just those working in vineyards or wineries. Professionals in marketing, logistics, hospitality, tourism, research and development, export, design, communications and many other supporting roles are encouraged to apply.

Entrants will be asked to outline their career to date, their contributions to the industry and community, and examples of leadership and technological innovation within their role.

Applications close on 13 September 2026, with the inaugural recipient to be announced at the Riverina Winemakers Wine Show Awards Luncheon on 17 October 2026.