History of Penfolds
Penfolds was established by Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold, English immigrants who planted vines at Magill Estate near Adelaide with the original intention of producing medicinal fortified wines. By the late 19th century, the estate had grown to become one of Australia's largest and most respected wineries.
The 20th century marked a turning point in Penfolds' identity. In 1948, Max Schubert was appointed Chief Winemaker. Inspired by his visit to Bordeaux, he created Grange Hermitage (now simply Grange)—a revolutionary wine that initially defied tradition by aging Shiraz in new American oak. Although met with resistance in the early years, Grange would later earn Penfolds international acclaim and define the stylistic foundation of its red winemaking philosophy.
Penfolds continued to innovate throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, introducing benchmark wines like Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, and the white flagship Yattarna Chardonnay. The company also pioneered multi-regional and multi-varietal blending, creating house styles that transcended vintage and terroir. In recent years, Penfolds expanded beyond Australian borders, launching California and French collections, including Bin 149 and FWT 585—international projects that still bear the hallmark Penfolds craftsmanship.
Today, Penfolds remains a global reference for both innovation and heritage, with Peter Gago as Chief Winemaker since 2002. Under his leadership, the estate has maintained its legacy while pushing stylistic boundaries worldwide.
Region and Vineyards
Penfolds has revolutionised the concept of terroir in Australia by embracing a multi-regional sourcing philosophy, which stands in deliberate contrast to traditional estate-based viticulture. This approach, first pioneered by Max Schubert in the 1950s with Grange, enables the winemaking team to select the best parcels of fruit from multiple regions each vintage, prioritising stylistic consistency and longevity over single-site expression.
In South Australia, the heartland of Penfolds, fruit is sourced from:
- Barossa Valley - delivers ripe, powerful Shiraz with dense fruit concentration, signature to many Penfolds reds including Grange and RWT.
- McLaren Vale - known for plush, velvety Shiraz and Cabernet with a Mediterranean softness and savoury lift.
- Coonawarra - revered for Cabernet Sauvignon grown on terra rossa soils, bringing linearity, graphite minerality, and firm tannins (notably in Bin 707 and Bin 169).
- Padthaway and Wrattonbully - cooler regions producing Chardonnay and structured red fruit with acidity and finesse.
- Adelaide Hills and Tumbarumba - high-altitude, cool-climate zones crucial for white wine excellence, particularly Yattarna Chardonnay, which is often blended from Tasmania, Tumbarumba and the Hills.
- Magill Estate - the original 1844 vineyard, now urban, still provides fruit for the single-vineyard Magill Estate Shiraz, made on-site.
In addition to its South Australian core, Penfolds expanded its footprint globally:
- In California, it sources from Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Paso Robles, using local fruit and Australian vine cuttings planted in the 1990s. Wines like Bin 149, Bin 704, and Bin 600 reflect this cross-continental identity.
- In France, the FWT 585 project in Haut-Médoc marks Penfolds' reinterpretation of Bordeaux, with Australian blending sensibility applied to Cabernet, Merlot, and Petit Verdot grown on Médoc soils.
This extensive sourcing grants Penfolds enormous flexibility to craft wines across style, ageability, and price, while remaining true to the house signature: mid-palate weight, aromatic lift, fine tannins, and layered structure.
Wine Range of Penfolds
Penfolds' portfolio is one of the most comprehensive in the world, structured around tiered classifications and styles—each with its own purpose and identity.
Icon & Luxury Tier:
- Grange: The flagship. A Shiraz (occasionally with a small Cabernet component) aged in 100% new American oak. It's designed for exceptional longevity (30+ years), complexity, and power.
- Bin 707: A monovarietal Cabernet Sauvignon, often described as the "Cabernet sibling" to Grange. Matured in new American oak, from top Coonawarra and Barossa sites.
- RWT Bin 798: A Barossa Valley Shiraz matured in French oak hogsheads—more supple and floral than Grange, with pronounced terroir expression.
- Yattarna Chardonnay: The white flagship. A cool-climate blend from Tasmania, Tumbarumba, and Adelaide Hills, matured in French oak. Burgundy-inspired in structure and elegance.
- Bin 169: Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak; a more terroir-specific and restrained counterpoint to Bin 707.
- Superblend 802.A & 802.B: Dual bottlings of Cabernet Shiraz blends from the same parcels, aged respectively in American and French oak. Modern, limited-edition icons.
Bin Series (Heritage Tier) - This tier showcases Penfolds' house style in classic multi-regional blends:
- Bin 389: Often called "Baby Grange." A Cabernet Shiraz matured in the same barrels used for Grange the previous year. Structured, ageworthy, and stylistically Penfolds.
- Bin 407: Cabernet Sauvignon from multiple regions, matured in French oak—elegant and aromatic.
- Bin 28: Shiraz showcasing Barossa warmth and Penfolds' mid-palate plushness.
- Bin 128: A French-oaked Shiraz from Coonawarra, with a more linear and spicy profile.
- Bin 138: GSM (Grenache Shiraz Mataro) inspired by Rhône blends—savoury, textured, and floral.
Speciality and Regional Wines
- Cellar Reserve Series: Small-batch, often experimental wines (e.g., Sangiovese, Fiano, Barbera) made in micro-parcels to showcase innovation and alternative varietals or techniques.
- Magill Estate Shiraz: A single-vineyard wine made entirely on-site in Adelaide, showcasing an urban terroir and traditional open fermenters with basket pressing.
Max's Range - A tribute to Max Schubert, designed for early drinking but still retaining Penfolds DNA. Includes:
California Collection:
- Bin 600: A California Cabernet Shiraz blend with Australian vine material.
- Bin 704: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak—stylistic opposite of Bin 707.
- Bin 149: A "Wine of the World" combining Napa fruit with a small percentage of South Australian Cabernet.
French Collection:
- FWT 585: A Left Bank-style blend made in the Haut-Médoc using Penfolds techniques.
- Champagne collaboration (with Thiénot): Multi-vintage blanc de blancs and blanc de noirs in the Penfolds style.
This tiered structure allows Penfolds to cater to a wide range of consumers, from entry-level enthusiasts to collectors and investors—without ever compromising on technical excellence or stylistic integrity.
Did you know?
Grange is the only Australian wine to be listed as a heritage icon by the National Trust of South Australia. It has been awarded 100 points by international critics multiple times and is recognised as one of the world's greatest wines, often compared to Bordeaux First Growths and Burgundy's Grand Crus.
