PENFOLDS SOUTH AUSTRALIA GRANGE 2015

The nose of the 2015 Grange features the wine's characteristic lifted aromas, joined by pronounced American oak influence and bold blackberry fruit, plus hints of red meat, raspberries, asphalt and vanilla. It's dense and concentrated on the palate, full-bodied yet balanced and firm, with a rich, velvety texture and long, plush finish. Don't expect great complexity at this stage--it's much too young to show much more than the primary fruit and oak elements--but this is a Grange that should easily go three or four decades.

Our Founders

From a soil that had never grown grapes and winemakers that had never made wine, came the very first bottles of Penfolds.

We are borne from pioneers who had curiosity and just 'had a go'. In 1844 Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold arrived in the new world onboard the Taglioni with a vine cutting and a bold vision.

The family purchased 500 acres of ‘the choicest land’ in early colonial South Australia and set about inventing tonics, brandies, and fortified wines made from grapes and Australian sunshine.

From unknown soils in a faraway land, a world class winery grew. 

THE NOBLE EXPLORER

Dr Christopher Penfold

Christopher Rawson Penfold began it all. A doctor, with an eye for medicinal winemaking, he and his wife, Mary sought a new life in Australia.  One filled with hope and prosperity. 

They found it in Magill Estate, near Adelaide. Here, Christopher planted vines and set in motion philosophies that remain with us to this day.

THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF

Mary Penfold

As with the time, Christopher was seen at the forefront of the winery. However, behind every great man is a great woman. Mary Penfold is the unsung chief of Penfolds with many of experimentations, growth and winemaking philosophies originating from her. 

Everything she knew about wine, she taught herself – insisting on having the grapes blended to her own taste. A woman standing confidently at the helm of a thriving business in the 1800s was unheard of. She’d command from a white mare, watching over the vineyard with her treasured spyglass close at hand.

“Grapes of all kinds are used, the uniformity which is so great a consideration, is secured by blending the wines when they are two or three years old.

This is done under Mrs Penfold's personal supervision, not in conformity with any fixed and definite rule but entirely according to her judgment and taste.”

THE ADELAIDE REGISTER,

JUNE 1874

Winemaking Philosophy

For over 170 years, three distinct styles have underpinned our winemaking philosophy: single vineyard or single block, single region or sub-region, multi-region, and multi-varietal blending.

Our single vineyard and single block wines are celebrated for their unique terroir and sense of place. These include Magill Estate Shiraz, Kalimna Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon, Cellar Reserve Kalimna Block 25 Mataro, and Bin 170 Kalimna Shiraz.

Similarly, our wines sourced from a single region or sub-region represent the best of what that region or sub-region can offer. These wines are regarded for their optimised regional character and microclimate variants such as soil, drainage and aspect. Examples include RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz, Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz, Reserve Bin A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz and Bin 23 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir.

Finally, both multi-region and multi-varietal blending exemplify what Penfolds is best known for from a winemaking perspective – crafting wines to a house style. Penfolds Grange is the original and most powerful expression of this blending philosophy, which results in a consistency of style and quality across vintages. Other examples of this style include St Henri Shiraz, Yattarna, Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz and Grandfather Rare Tawny.

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