Penfolds: Australia’s Iconic Winery and the Legend of Grange

From Medicine to Wine

• Founded in 1844 by Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold, an English physician who believed in the medicinal virtues of wine.
• With his wife Mary, he planted the first vines at Magill Estate, near Adelaide in South Australia.
• After Dr. Penfold’s death in 1870, Mary took over and significantly expanded the estate over the next 25 years.

The Birth of Grange

• In the 1950s, visionary Max Schubert, Penfolds’ chief winemaker, drew inspiration from the great wines of Bordeaux to create a world-class Australian wine.
• The first vintage of Grange Hermitage was produced in 1951, secretly, after management judged it too different.
• Today, Penfolds Grange is the most famous and sought-after Australian wine in the world, with prices reaching several thousand dollars per bottle.

Iconic Range and Wines

• Grange: The absolute icon, a blend of Shiraz with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, of exceptional power and complexity.
• Bin 707: The “Cabernet Sauvignon Grange,” made with the same philosophy.
• Bin 389: Nicknamed “Baby Grange,” aged in barrels that held Grange the previous year.
• St Henri: An exceptional Shiraz aged without new oak, in large old vats, revealing the purity of the fruit.
• RWT: Barossa Valley Shiraz, aged in French oak barrels, offering a more modern expression.
• The Bin, Max’s, Koonunga Hill, and Rawson’s Retreat ranges for more accessible wines.

The Multi-Regional Philosophy

• Unlike the Bordeaux or Burgundy model, Penfolds does not limit itself to a single estate but blends the finest grapes from across South Australia.
• Vineyards span from the Barossa Valley to McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, and Adelaide Hills.
• This unique approach ensures consistency of style and quality from year to year, regardless of local weather conditions.