Penfolds Wines | Australia's Most Iconic Wine Producer
Penfolds
Australia's most iconic wine producer. Established at Magill Estate, South Australia, in 1844. Home of Grange.
Why Penfolds Matters
Penfolds is the benchmark against which Australian fine wine is measured. For more than 175 years, the winery has produced wines of extraordinary consistency, depth and longevity across every tier of its portfolio — from the accessible Bin range to the legendary Grange. No other Australian producer has achieved the same combination of critical acclaim, collector demand, auction performance and cultural significance.
Penfolds is defined by a philosophy of multi-regional blending and an unwavering commitment to house style. Rather than expressing a single vineyard or region, Penfolds sources fruit from Australia’s finest sites — Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills and beyond — combining them with precision to achieve wines of depth, balance and longevity.
Grange — The Authority Anchor
Grange is Australia’s most celebrated red wine and one of the most collected wines in the world. First made by Chief Winemaker Max Schubert in 1951 — inspired by his travels to Bordeaux — Grange was initially rejected by Penfolds management but continued in secret production. Early vintages began winning major awards and Grange was officially reinstated in 1960. In 1986 it became the first wine declared a South Australian Heritage Icon.
Grange has been produced in an unbroken line since 1951 and remains in continuous annual production under Chief Winemaker Peter Gago, the fourth custodian of the wine. It is the defining expression of Australian Shiraz and the organising principle around which the entire Penfolds portfolio is understood.
Max Schubert’s Legacy
Max Schubert was appointed Penfolds Chief Winemaker in 1948 and went on to create one of the most consequential wines in Australian history. His vision for Grange — a wine built for longevity, inspired by the great reds of Bordeaux but made entirely from Australian fruit — was initially rejected by Penfolds management as too radical. Schubert continued production in secret, and early vintages eventually proved the concept beyond doubt.
Schubert’s legacy is not only Grange. He established the Penfolds philosophy of multi-regional blending, the pursuit of house style over terroir expression, and the belief that Australian wine could compete with the finest wines in the world. Every Penfolds wine made since carries the influence of that philosophy.
Understanding the Penfolds Portfolio
Grange — The organising principle of the entire portfolio. Multi-regional Shiraz of extraordinary depth and longevity, produced continuously since 1951. The most collected Australian wine at auction.
Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon — Penfolds’ flagship Cabernet and the Cabernet equivalent of Grange in terms of ambition and longevity. Sourced from premium South Australian vineyards and built for decades of cellaring.
RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz — Demonstrates an alternative Penfolds expression built around Barossa identity rather than multi-regional blending. Matured in French oak rather than the American oak associated with Grange, RWT shows the range of the Penfolds winemaking philosophy.
Magill Estate Shiraz — Connects modern Penfolds directly to the historic Magill Estate vineyard in Adelaide where the winery was founded in 1844. A single-vineyard wine of historical and geographical significance.
Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz — Often called “Baby Grange”, Bin 389 is matured in barrels previously used for Grange and helped establish the Penfolds house style for generations of collectors. One of Australia’s most recognised Cabernet Shiraz blends.
Bin 28 Shiraz — A Penfolds staple since 1959 and one of the most consistent expressions of multi-regional Australian Shiraz at an accessible price point.
Max’s Range — Named in honour of Max Schubert, the everyday range carries the Penfolds house style into an accessible tier, making the philosophy available to a broader audience.
Collectability & Cellaring
Penfolds is one of Australia’s most important producers for collectors and long-term cellaring. Grange regularly achieves significant results at auction and is considered a blue-chip investment wine, with older vintages commanding prices that reflect both quality and scarcity. Bin 707 and RWT also have strong cellaring track records.
The Penfolds Re-corking Clinic — offered periodically to owners of older Penfolds wines — is itself a signal of the winery’s commitment to the longevity of its wines and the collector community that surrounds them. Vintage variation matters at Penfolds: the best vintages for Grange are widely documented and actively sought by collectors.
Winemaking Philosophy
Penfolds is guided by a philosophy of multi-regional blending and the pursuit of a consistent house style across every tier of the portfolio. Rather than expressing a single vineyard or region, Penfolds sources fruit from Australia’s finest sites and combines them with precision to achieve wines of depth, balance and longevity. The winery’s commitment to continuity is embodied in Grange, which has been produced in an unbroken line since 1951 and remains the benchmark against which Australian red wine is measured.
Producer Timeline
1844 — Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold and his wife Mary emigrate from Sussex to South Australia, planting vine cuttings at Magill Estate.
1870 — Mary Penfold takes control of the business following Christopher’s death, expanding the winery.
1948 — Max Schubert appointed Chief Winemaker.
1951 — Max Schubert creates the first vintage of Grange.
1960 — Grange officially reinstated after early vintages win major awards.
1986 — Grange declared a South Australian Heritage Icon — the first wine to receive the designation.
2002 — Peter Gago appointed Chief Winemaker, becoming the fourth custodian of Grange.
Today — Penfolds produces wines across Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills and beyond, with Grange in continuous annual production.