Penfolds

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Penfolds

Whilst the Penfolds name is shrouded in winemaking lore, the selection of vineyard sites and the quality of its fruit have always underpinned its reputation. In 1844 Dr Penfold was congratulated for purchasing a well-sited vineyard. The South Australian Register of 8 August, 1844 reports the arrival of Dr Penfold in the colony, noting, "He is the fortunate purchaser of the delightfully situated and truly valuable estate of Mackgill for the sum of £1,200".

One hundred years later, Penfolds had become a major landholder with vineyard and winery holdings throughout New South Wales and South Australia producing an array of light table and sparkling wines, ports and sherries. Today, however, Penfolds is predominantly a South Australian winemaker, sourcing its fruit from its own vineyards and from independent growers, many of whose families have supplied grapes to the company for generations and are members of the elite Penfolds Grange Growers Club because of the exceptional quality of their grapes.

The sheer diversity and quality of regional provenance, vineyard sites and independently grown fruit provide winemakers with a rich palette of colour, aroma and texture - a superb resource which allows a remarkable consistency of style and quality across the Penfolds portfolio.

Adelaide is the birthplace of South Australian viticulture and the home of South Australia's most famous wine, Penfolds Grange. It was once a flourishing viticultural region, however, over time urbanisation and residential development have forced the relocation of a number of wineries to regions outside the city.

Today, there is very little evidence of the early viticultural boom. The exception is Penfolds Magill Estate, which is located within the Adelaide metropolitan area, just 8km (5 miles) east of the city centre.

In 1844, Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold, an Englishman from Sussex, founded Penfolds Wines. Today, only 5.2ha of the vineyard remains, with the grapes used for Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz. The winery is now home to winemaking and viticultural teams and is the venue each year for the fermentation and maturation of Penfolds Grange.The site remains Adelaide's most historic vineyard, and the Magill Estate Winery is honoured as the home of Penfolds.