In the vineyard
Multi-regional blends are what Penfolds is famous for, selecting fruit from across the whole of Southeastern Australia and crafting wines to a house style.
The producer’s top wine Grange is a multi-vineyard blend with the wine’s origins varying every vintage, depending on climate conditions and selections at the blending stage. Other multi-regional blends include St Henri Shiraz, Yattarna Chardonnay and Bin 389. Most of the grapes are sourced from the Barossa, Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and Mclaren Vale.
Penfolds also makes some single region, single block wines, including Magill Hill Shiraz (the original Penfolds vineyard) based in Adelaide Hills and a number of wines from the historic Kalimna vineyard in Barossa Valley.
In the winery
There have only ever been four chief winemakers at Penfolds in its long, illustrious history. After Max Schubert retired, Don Ditter took over, followed by John Duval and since 2002 Peter Gago has headed up the team.
Penfolds is well known for using a high proportion of American oak in the maturation of their wines – including Grange, however they also use French oak. While most of the top cuvées see high proportions of new oak, the St Henri Shiraz is only matured in old oak casks.
Blending components from different sites and grapes (typically Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon for the reds) is the key to Penfolds’ success, crafting wines to a house style.
Most of Penfolds wines are named after a cellar bin number (eg Bin 101), where the wines were historically stored.