McLaren Vale Tour #06 - Serafino Mclaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
By J_&_J on 10-Feb-18. Waypoint GA11456

The Serafino story began in 1964 when Steve (Serafino) Maglieri arrived in Australia from Italy as a passionate teenager full of dreams.

Two years later, with the assistance of his father Giovanni, he planted his first vines in McLaren Vale that now extends to 350 acres, laying the foundation of a winemaking dynasty that today is known as Serafino Wines and overseen by his daughter, Maria.

From the beginning, Steve and his father worked from dawn to dusk seven days a week to produce wines of such outstanding quality that it wasn’t long before the accolades began to flow.

 And it’s this love that saw him become Australia’s "Lambrusco King" in the 1990s, bottling the wine inspired in part by his homeland under his family name.  Demand for Lambrusco was so high that at its peak, Steve was producing more than four million bottles a year before selling his company to Mildara Blass in 1998.    

As early as 1979, Steve was crowned ‘Bushing King’ for best red wine in the McLaren Vale Wine Show – an honour he achieved again in 1992 and 2007 - while further national recognition followed in 1997 when he won the trophy for Best Shiraz in the Great Australian Wine Challenge.

Numerous awards have followed including the Trophy for Best Shiraz and Red Wine of the Year at the London International Wine Challenge in 1997 and earning the Trophy for the most consistent Shiraz at the London International Wine Challenge after winning Gold in its class for five consecutive years.

Today Steve’s daughter Maria Maglieri is the driving force of Serafino Wines, forging ahead with traditional McLaren Vale varieties as well as exciting Italian-style wines such as Fiano, Lagrein, Vermentino, Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio, Nebbiolo and Primitivo plus the Spanish variety Tempranillo.

Serafino’s rich Italian heritage shines through the names of many wines including Terremoto, the Italian word for ‘earthquake’ that is also a term of endearment to describe a spirited individual full of life and energy.  Friends and family often refer to Steve as ‘Terremoto’.

Situated in the heart of McLaren Vale in the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula, it’s no surprise Serafino has built its reputation as a tourism destination for award winning wines with the largest Italian varietal portfolio in the region, restaurant, premium conference and function facility and 4 star accommodation.

Nowadays, Steve continues to be the face of Serafino and enjoys hosting local, national and international guests at Serafino Restaurant, and still loves checking the vines, tasting wines and lending a hand inside the winery. He is an active member in South Australia’s Italian community, and loves playing golf.