The collaboration between Anthony Lister and Steve Webber brings together two figures who each express a strong sense of identity through their craft. Lister’s art inspiration for the Melba Reserve came “when I spilt some of the wine on the ground I saw a shape. That shape inspired my image.”

Webber’s inspiration for the wine has come from the past. The first cuttings of cabernet varieties were planted in the Yarra Valley in the 1860's by its vineyard pioneers. The Melba is so named after one of the Yarra Valley's more colourful characters, opera diva Dame Nellie Melba. Born in Melbourne in 1861, for much of her time Dame Nellie resided in the Valley. Webber describes, “By the time Nellie was 21, we assume she was tucking in to some quality local claret. The Melba range honours ‘The Dame’ and is our interpretation of cabernet blends made in a medium bodied savoury style.”

Melba Reserve is a traditional Yarra Valley cabernet blend from the oldest vineyards dating back to 1971.

It is thrilling to see the visionary Webber rekindle the heritage of the Yarra through this wine and, with Anthony Lister, present it in such an alluring and contemporary manner.

Anthony Lister is an Australian born painter and installation artist. He has been featured in exhibitions all over the world and has held solo shows in New York City, London, Milan and Sydney. He is notable within the Low Brow Art Movement and has been featured in numerous art publications, including two books to his name. He currently resides between New York and Australia.

Lister's work suggest influences from a number of areas and genres, including street art, expressionism and pop art. It often deals with subject matter from the less glamorous aspects of popular culture. He occasionally draws from television and such themes as “misguided role models.” He has been quoted saying “Australians are raised by Americans on TV” and also that “TV is the contemporary mode of meditation.” Lister's own children have had a profound impact on the way he creates art, where he has been inspired through “watching what [his] own children are watching on TV” and “what they're bombarded with.”

Often mixing spray paint with brush strokes on canvas, Lister’s work is intelligent, contemporary and emotional, and has earned him an international following with a diverse audience.

De Bortoli Wines is a third generation family wine company that was established by Vittorio and Giuseppina De Bortoli in 1928. The couple emigrated to Australia from Northern Italy. For more than 75 years, the De Bortoli family tradition of sharing good wine, good food and good times with family and friends remains unchanged. With vineyard operations spanning from NSW to Victoria, De Bortoli present wines to all ends of the market. 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the legendary Noble One.

De Bortoli Yarra Valley is the leading edge in quality from the winemaking giant of De Bortoli. Indeed, through Steve Webber’s winemaking, De Bortoli are setting trends for the Australian wine industry with their consistent “bar setting” standard. From the Yarra Valley, they present a number of ranges (Windy Peak, Gulf Station, Yarra Valley Estate) loved for their quality and affordability.

In 2006, De Bortoli released their Melba range from the Yarra Valley. Named after opera diva Dame Nellie Melba, one of the Yarra Valley’s more colourful characters who was born in Melbourne in 1861, the Melba range is De Bortoli’s interpretation of cabernet blends and the Reserve is inspired by the traditional Bordeaux blend.

When Steve Webber married Leanne De Bortoli in 1989 and moved to the family's Yarra Valley vineyard to establish a premium wine brand, he set out “to do something a bit special.”

Webber was born to be a winemaker. He absorbed a wide understanding of horticulture and viticultural research and innovation in the wine industry from his late father. His first employer was Lindemans who sponsored his studies for a Bachelor of Applied Science in Oenology at Roseworthy.

The 2007 Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine Winemaker of the Year is seeking greater finesse in his wines by picking earlier and using less new oak. As he explains, “It all starts in the vineyard where we work to improve flavour levels and finesse while harvesting at lower sugars and avoiding wines with over-ripe flavours and high alcohol.”

Webber says, 'The important features in wine for us is character, charm and allure, whether posh or peasant wine. The future of Australian wine is in regionality and sense of place. The blending of varieties is very important but what is more relevant is wine from a single vineyard or region. “

In 2008, Webber was appointed as Chairman of Judges at The Royal Melbourne Wine Show.