About Penfolds
Penfolds Winery, located in the famous Barossa Valley region of South Australia, is Australia's most renowned and largest winery. It is regarded as a symbol of Australian wine and known as the aristocrat of the Australian wine industry.
Christopher Rosen Penfolds, the founder of Penfolds Winery, was a young doctor from England, born in 1811. Dr. Penfolds was the youngest of his 11 siblings and studied medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London. Like other doctors of his time, he had a firm belief in the medicinal value of wine. In 1844, Dr. Penfolds and his wife immigrated to Australia, bought the Magill Estate in South Australia, and brought some grapevines from the south of France to Adelaide, South Australia. At that time, Mrs. Penfolds was responsible for garden management, grape cultivation, and winemaking. The initial grape variety was Grenache, and the wine made from Grenache was mainly used to provide nourishment for anemic patients, earning Penfolds the nickname "1844 Never-Ending."
In 1845, Dr. Penfolds and his wife planted the grapevines brought from France in Magill, a suburb of Adelaide. To continue the tradition of grape cultivation in southern France, they also built a stone house in the center of the vineyard. The couple named this small stone house "Grange," which means "farm" in English. This is also the origin of Penfolds Winery's most famous wine series, Grange, which would become known as the "King of Australian Wine" and one of the world's top twelve wines. Due to its limited production, it is a favorite among many wine collectors in today's market. It was in that simple stone house that Dr. Penfolds established his medical experimental center and began making fortified wines for his patients. With the increasing demand for wine in recent years, Dr. Penfolds gradually expanded the area and yield of his grape cultivation.
By 1870, the Grange vineyard had expanded to 60 acres, cultivating many grape varieties, including Grenache, Verdelho, Mourvedre, and Pedro Ximenez. The winery produced sweet wines, dry red wines, and dry white wines, with Victoria and New South Wales as its main markets. In 1880, Mr. Penfolds unfortunately passed away, and his wife Mary took over the winery.
Business gradually grew, and Mary Penfolds managed the winery with her son-in-law Thomas Hyland and cellar manager Joseph Gillard. Under Mary Penfolds' meticulous management, the winery grew in scale. For 35 years since its establishment, Penfolds Winery's total output accounted for 30% of the South Australian wine market. At the same time, Penfolds Winery owned 120 acres of vineyards, making it the largest winery in South Australia. From then on, Penfolds became a household name in Australia. In 1896, Mary, who made immense contributions to the Australian wine industry, passed away. Afterward, her children continued to operate the winery until World War II. During this period, Penfolds Winery almost monopolized the entire Australian wine market, reaching its peak.
In 2002, Peter Gago became the chief winemaker of Penfolds Winery. By this time, Penfolds wines were sold worldwide, becoming one of the most familiar brands. Among the wines released during this period, the 2004 Bin 42 and Bin 60A stood out in quality. In 2010, Penfolds launched its first Bin 23 series red wine made from Pinot Noir. Penfolds Winery's products can meet the demands of all markets, and their style reflects the generous national spirit and style of Australia.
For 150 years, Penfolds Winery has maintained consistent excellent quality and winemaking philosophy. Therefore, to this day, Penfolds Winery remains one of the leaders in the Australian wine industry.
The value of wine should not be forgotten in a corner of the wine cabinet.
