About Penfolds
Penfolds Winery, located in the renowned Barossa Valley region of South Australia, is Australia's most famous and largest winery. It is considered a symbol of Australian wine and is often referred to as the aristocracy of the Australian wine industry.
Christopher Rosen Penfolds, the founder of Penfolds winery, was a young English doctor born in 1811. The youngest of 11 children, he studied medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London. Like other doctors, he held a strong belief in the medicinal value of wine. In 1844, Dr. Penfolds and his wife immigrated to Australia, purchasing Margaret Estate in South Australia and bringing vines from the south of France to Adelaide. Mrs. Penfolds was responsible for garden management, viticulture, and winemaking. The initial grape variety was Grenache, and Grenache wines were primarily intended to provide nourishment for those suffering from anemia, thus earning Penfolds the nickname "1844 Forever."
In 1845, Dr. Penfold and his wife planted grapevines brought from France in Magill, a suburb of Adelaide. To continue the tradition of grape cultivation in southern France, they built a stone house amidst the vines. The couple named this small stone house Grange, meaning "farm" in English, which is the origin of Penfolds' most famous Grange wine series. This series is hailed as the king of Australian wines and is one of the world's twelve top wines. Due to limited production, it is a favorite among many wine collectors today. It was in that simple stone house that Dr. Penfold established his medical research center and began making fortified wines for his patients. As the demand for wine increased, Dr. Penfold gradually increased the vineyard area and production.
By 1870, the Glenmorangie vineyard had expanded to 60 acres, planted with a variety of grape varieties, including Grenache, Verdelho, Mourvedre, and Pedro Ximenez. The winery produced sweet wines, dry red wines, and dry white wines, primarily for the markets of Victoria and New South Wales. In 1880, Mr. Penfold tragically passed away, and his wife, Mary, took over the winery. 
As the business grew, Mary Penfolds, along with her son-in-law Thomas Hyland and cellar manager Joseph Girard, jointly managed the winery. Under Mary Penfolds' meticulous management, the winery expanded significantly. For 35 years, Penfolds accounted for 30% of the South Australian wine market. With 120 acres of vineyards, it was the largest winery in South Australia. From then on, Penfolds became a household name in Australia. In 1896, Mary, who had made immense contributions to the Australian wine industry, passed away. Her children continued to run the winery until World War II. During this period, Penfolds virtually monopolized the Australian wine market, reaching its peak.
In 2002, Peter Goggia became the chief winemaker at Penfolds. By then, Penfolds wines were sold worldwide and had become a well-known brand. Among the wines launched during this period, the 2004 Bin 42 and Bin 60A were particularly outstanding. In 2010, Penfolds launched its first series of red wines made from Pinot Noir, the Bin 23. Penfolds wines cater to the needs of all markets, and their style reflects the generous spirit and character of the Australian people.
For 150 years, Penfolds has maintained its consistently high quality and winemaking philosophy. Therefore, to this day, Penfolds remains one of the leaders in the Australian wine industry.
