De Stefani

Eastern Veneto and Friuli, Italy

Family Estate Since 1866

A Legacy Rooted in Place

De Stefani is a historic family wine estate in northeastern Italy, with ancestral roots in the Veneto dating back to 1624. The winery itself was formally founded in 1866 by Valeriano De Stefani in the hills of Refrontolo, between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. Over four generations, the family has remained unwavering in its belief that great wine begins in the vineyard and must reflect its origin with clarity and integrity.

Today, the estate is led by Alessandro De Stefani, fourth generation, alongside his wife Chiara. Alessandro continues a family tradition defined not by nostalgia, but by thoughtful evolution. Long before “natural wine” entered the global lexicon, De Stefani was already questioning intervention, prioritizing vine health, and refining techniques to elevate terroir expression.

That spirit of progress was firmly established under Alessandro’s father, Tiziano De Stefani, who in the mid-20th century introduced temperature-controlled fermentations, small oak vessels, and high-density vineyard plantings—decisions that dramatically raised quality while preserving regional identity.

Vineyards & Terroir

The estate today encompasses approximately 60 hectares (150 acres) of vineyards across Eastern Veneto, with sites carefully selected for their soils, exposure, and climatic balance.

• Refrontolo Hills (Treviso)
  The family’s historic Colvendrame vineyard sits on the steep slopes between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene—now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. These elevated sites deliver finesse, aromatic precision, and natural freshness.
• Piave River Valley (Venice & Treviso provinces)
  The Pra’ Longo estate in Monastier di Treviso and Le Ronche in Fossalta di Piave lie between the Adriatic Sea and the Dolomites. This corridor creates pronounced diurnal temperature shifts, ideal for slow, even ripening.

The defining geological feature across these sites is Caranto soil—a compact, mineral-rich white clay formed from ancient marine sediment mixed with Alpine deposits. Long prized in the Piave zone, Caranto contributes structure, salinity, and longevity, particularly to indigenous varieties like Raboso Piave and Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso.

Viticulture & Winemaking Philosophy

De Stefani farms organically, incorporating biodynamic principles and avoiding herbicides, chemical fertilizers, and systemic treatments. Vine density is high (up to 8,000+ vines per hectare), naturally limiting yields and promoting deep root systems. Many parcels are planted to older vines, producing low yields and concentrated fruit.

In the cellar, the philosophy is resolutely non-interventionist:

• Spontaneous fermentations with indigenous yeasts
• No additives or corrections
• No sulphites during vinification, with only a minimal dose at bottling when necessary for stability

Since 2009, this approach has defined the estate’s modern identity. De Stefani has also pioneered proprietary techniques such as “Method Zero” for sparkling wines—an ancestral-style process that uses no added sulphites. de Stefani continues to employ traditional appassimento for select red wines.

Sustainability extends beyond viticulture. The winery operates on 100% renewable energy, powered by an on-site solar installation of over 400 panels, making De Stefani a carbon-neutral estate.

Indigenous Varieties & Signature Wines

De Stefani is deeply committed to the preservation and elevation of historic local grape varieties, many of which were marginalized during the internationalization of Italian wine.

Key varieties include:

• Raboso Piave – structured, vibrant, and age-worthy
• Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso – dark-fruited, mineral, and powerful
• Marzemino – aromatic and supple
• Glera – for terroir-driven Prosecco expressions
• Friulano (Tai) – expressive, saline, and distinctly northeastern Italian

Many wines are produced from single vineyards, allowing each site’s personality to emerge with clarity.

Critical Recognition

De Stefani’s wines are consistently reviewed by leading Italian and international critics, appearing in guides such as Gambero Rosso, Slow Wine, AIS, DoctorWine, Veronelli, Vinibuoni d’Italia, Wine Spectator, The Wine Advocate, and James Suckling.

Notable distinctions include:

• “Kreda” Refosco – cited as Best Refosco in Italy by Luca Maroni, with scores reaching 96 points
• Malanotte del Piave (Raboso) – awarded Best Raboso del Piave and recipient of the Corona distinction from Vinibuoni d’Italia
• Kreda 2021 – ranked among Italy’s top red wines in Luca Maroni’s 2025 guide

These accolades reflect not stylistic excess, but precision, authenticity, and restraint—wines that speak clearly of Eastern Veneto’s forgotten greatness.

Why De Stefani Matters

De Stefani stands at the intersection of heritage and clarity, proving that northeastern Italy’s indigenous varieties—when farmed rigorously and vinified honestly—can deliver wines of depth, tension, and international relevance. For buyers seeking character-driven Italian wines with a true sense of place, De Stefani offers a compelling and quietly confident voice.