Our Review
Penfolds is the star in the crown of Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) but its history predates the formation of TWE by close on 170 years. Its shape has changed in terms of its vineyards, its management, its passing parade of great winemakers and its wines. There is no other single winery brand in the New or the Old World with the depth and breadth of Penfolds. Retail prices range from less than $20 to $950 for Grange, which is the cornerstone, produced every year, albeit with the volume determined by the quality of the vintage, not by cash flow. There is now a range of regional wines of single varieties and the Bin Range of wines that includes both regional blends and (in some instances) varietal blends. Penfolds is a red wine producer at heart, but its Yattarna and Reserve Bin A chardonnays are the quality equal of anything the company produces. The quality of new international wines under the Penfolds name is, in these early days, less emphatic. -JAMES HALLIDAY
About
Penfolds has been producing an impressive array of wines since 1844 and indisputably led the development of Australian fine wine into the modern era. The introduction of Penfolds Grange in 1951 forever changed the landscape of Australian fine wine. Since then a series of standout wines, both white and red, have been released under the Penfolds masthead.
The house style at Penfolds embraces the concepts of multi-regional blending, optimum fruit quality, the use of fine-grained American (and increasingly French) oak and most often, barrel fermentation and maturation. Without the constraints of a single vineyard, Penfolds winemakers continue to choose the best possible fruit, showcasing the outstanding characteristics of each vineyard.
As the Penfolds Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago is the custodian of a valuable winemaking heritage. A former science teacher whose love of wine led him to Roseworthy College where he graduated as Dux, Peter is only the fourth man to be entrusted with Australia’s greatest wine, Grange, which was first made by the late, great, winemaker Max Schubert.
Peter joined Penfolds in 1989, and its red wine team in 1993. A year later he became the company’s Red Wine Oenologist, working closely with John Duval on the maintenance of ‘House-Style’ while still looking to break new winemaking ground.
Peter took over as Chief Winemaker in 2002 and heads a vastly experienced and extremely talented winemaking team committed to continuing the valuable traditions established by his predecessors.
Cellar Door
Details are correct at time of writing
Please check winery website for up to date details
Food
Details are correct at time of writing
Please check winery website for up to date details
Details
| Rating |
|
| Winemaker |
Peter Gago |
| Established |
1844 |
| Dozens |
NFP |
| Vineyards (area) |
N/A |
| Viticulturist |
N/A |
| Opening Hours |
7 days 10-5 |
| Address |
30 Tanunda Road, Nuriootpa, SA 5355 P16
|
| Telephone |
(08) 8568 8408
|
| Website |
www.penfolds.com
|
