This advertising content was produced in collaboration with our partner, Hill-Smith Family Estates.
Holding the title of Australia’s oldest family-run wine company—in a region as historic as the Barossa Valley, no less—is an honor the Hill-Smith family does not take lightly. In fact, quite the opposite. Six generations in, the family behind Hill-Smith Family Estates and its world-renowned brands like Yalumba, Oxford Landing, Pewsey Vale and Jansz—which celebrated 175 years of winemaking in 2024—is not only continuing the legacy of innovation and sustainability, they’re taking it to the next level.
In 2025, they are launching a new collection of wines based on their Y Series—a diverse and inclusive collection of varietal wines that are affordable, vegan, and easy to drink. The Y Series has been slaking the thirst of wine lovers across the globe for over 20 years. In fact, the Y Series Viognier has even become the number one imported Viognier to the U.S. Now, the line gets a new, lighter spin with Y Series Lighter.
The inclusive nature of the Y Series makes the Y Series Lighter wines a perfect extension of that philosophy. The new collection, which includes a citrusy sparkling cuvée, an orchard-fruit-laced Pinot Grigio, a tropical-fruited Chardonnay, and a red-berried Shiraz, clocks in at 8% ABV or less and each bottle is between 66 to 80 calories per serving. Plus, they’re affordably priced for everyday drinking.
Don’t miss the latest drinks industry news and insights. Sign up for our award-winning newsletters and get insider intel, resources, and trends delivered to your inbox every week.
At the forefront of this mission to create a wine style for every consumer is a focus on taste and quality. The Lighter collection is made using the same vegan and minimal-intervention winemaking techniques as the original Y Series collection, which maintains varietal flavor and exceptional quality. But for the Lighter wines, the winemaking team uses reverse osmosis to remove a portion of the alcohol, a gentle process that preserves the character of the wine at a lower ABV.
The Y Series Lighter collection offers a high-quality option for anyone moderating their alcohol or calorie intake, while also aligning with the Hill-Smith family’s deeply held values of authenticity, transparency, and sustainability. Their track record, particularly when it comes to the environment, is impressive. The company has led the sustainability charge Down Under for decades, spearheading countless initiatives, winning sustainability-related awards, and even achieved Gold Member status with the International Wineries for Climate Action, proving that environmental stewardship is possible at a large scale across multiple regions.
This ethos carries over to the Y Series Lighter collection. The wines are made from fruit farmed sustainably from vineyards around South Australia. Wastewater is repurposed, lightweight bottles are used, and thought is given to reduce impact at every level of the supply chain. In short, Hill-Smith Family Estates is ensuring there’s a Y Series wine to satisfy any consumer, today and well into the future.
Dispatch
Sign up for our award-winning newsletter
Don’t miss the latest drinks industry news and insights—delivered to your inbox every week.
