The Penfolds company owns vineyards in various top Australian growing regions including Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, and the Eden Valley known for producing high-quality Riesling. These vineyards grow a variety of grapes such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and other varietals.
Aside from the famous Penfolds Grange, which is considered one of the finest wines globally, the company has other wines that have also received international recognition and awards. Some of these include the Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Magill Estate Shiraz, St Henri Shiraz, and Bin 170 Shiraz. Penfolds has not only excelled in red wines but has also won numerous awards for their Reserve Bin A Chardonnay.
Penfolds’ success in Australia has led them to expand beyond the country to regions like Sonoma and Napa Valley in California. This expansion involved planting vine cuttings from their South Australia vineyards, culminating in the creation of the California Collection, featuring the flagship Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Why is the Penfolds Grange Special?
The Penfolds Grange is widely recognized as Australia’s most prestigious wine, with a price tag of around $1000 per bottle. In fact, a recent sale saw a collector purchase a 1951 Grange bottle for $157,000, setting a record for the highest amount paid for an Australian wine.
What sets the Grange apart is its unique winemaking process. Unlike traditional old-world wines sourced from a single vineyard, the Grange combines the best Shiraz grapes from the Barossa region and other Penfolds estates. Additionally, a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with the Shiraz must before fermentation.
Another distinguishing factor is that the Grange is aged for 20 months in American Oak barrels, giving it distinctive flavors and characteristics compared to wines aged in French Oak. This wine is typically released five years after the vintage, with experts suggesting it reaches its peak between 12 and 15 years and can age gracefully for up to 50 years.
The 2008 Penfolds Grange, Bin 95, received critical acclaim and perfect scores from renowned wine critics. Tasting the Grange offers a unique and complex experience that showcases the best of the vintage and the vineyards it originates from.
Experience the Magill Estate Tour and Penfolds Wine Tasting
While most of Penfolds’ winemaking activities occur in the Barossa Valley, a visit to the Magill Estate, the spiritual home of Penfolds, is a must for wine enthusiasts. Located near Adelaide, the Magill Estate is one of the world’s rare urban single block vineyards, set against the backdrop of the Adelaide Mountain Range.
Visitors can explore the estate’s vineyards, century-old grapevines, and heritage-listed winery. The guided tour includes visits to the underground drives, barrel rooms, and the bluestone cellars, offering insight into Penfolds’ winemaking heritage.
After the tour, guests can indulge in a wine tasting experience at the cellar door, ranging from casual tastings to in-depth master classes. The master classes provide a deeper understanding of Penfolds’ history and wine philosophy while allowing guests to savor the intricate flavors of their wines, including the iconic Grange.
A Culinary Delight at the Magill Estate Restaurant
For a complete Penfolds experience, dining at the Magill Estate Restaurant is a gastronomic adventure like no other. The restaurant complements the wine tasting with a fine dining experience amidst breathtaking views over the vineyards and Adelaide cityscape.
The menu features seasonal cuisine sourced from local communities, mirroring the wines’ origins. Dishes incorporate nuevo Australian cuisine with influences from Japanese and Brazilian culinary traditions, crafted by chefs with experience in Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide.
Guests can expect impeccable service from the staff, who guide them through the menu’s intricacies and wine pairings. With limited seating for up to 36 patrons, securing a reservation for this exclusive dining experience is highly recommended for those seeking a culinary journey intertwined with exquisite Penfolds wines.The expedition kicks off. This is a seven-course epicurean journey, so gear up for the experience. Diners can opt for the luxury wine pairing at an extra cost or go with the sommelier’s choice. The meal kicks off with what they call “snacks,” which are essentially Australian lingo for canapés or starters. These bite-sized treats are bursting with flavor, color, texture, and artful presentation that combine to create pure deliciousness. For instance, a single oyster is delicately presented on a bed of pebbles and fish roe garnished with a lilac edible flower. A crowd-pleaser that holds its ground on the ever-evolving menu is the deboned stuffed chicken wings filled with lobster and scallop, fried to perfection.
While the starters were sublime, leaving space for the main dishes is a smart move. The trio starts with ling fish paired with turnip and miso, offering a mix of flavors and textures from crispy skin to turnip puree. The duck dish follows, boasting crispy skin, flavorful fat, and tender meat that has been dry-aged for three weeks before cooking. It is served with fennel salad and dill sprigs. To round off the trio, the lamb is lightly salted and accompanied by a kale salad sprinkled with salty mullet roe and dotted with yellow flowers. After a refreshing palate cleanser, the culinary journey ends on a sweet note with an apple dessert featuring pine nuts and brown butter, a creative spin on apple pie. Pairing these dishes with Penfolds wines elevates the avant-garde dining experience.
It’s a testament to how exceptional food and wine can be, and the Magill Estate Restaurant has masterfully achieved this. The ultimate culinary experience at Penfolds surpasses expectations.
### A Legacy Spanning Over 175 Years
In Australia, a common saying is uttered when enjoying a fine glass of wine. This phrase is often recited after swirling, smelling, and savoring the wine.
After a moment to appreciate the palate sensation, one might exclaim: “Oh my, that is quite a delightful drop.” With a history of over 175 years, Penfolds has become synonymous with exquisite wines, with the Grange standing out as the epitome of excellence.
