PENFOLDS VINEYARDS AND REGIONS

The selection of vineyard sites and quality of fruit have always underpinned Penfolds reputation. Throughout its 175-year history Penfolds has owned and leased some of the best vineyard sites in Australia, and since the 1960s has worked with carefully selected growers to stay true to its fruit-first philosophy of multi-vineyard, multi-regional sourcing.

Today, Penfolds-owned vineyards are located on prime land throughout Southern Australia s finest wine regions. At the heart of the brand is Penfolds Magill Estate. Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold planted the first vines here back in 1844, and even today Magill Vineyard still contributes fruit to Grange when vintage conditions allow.

In 1945 Penfolds purchased the Kalimna Vineyard in the Barossa Valley, which was the largest vineyard in South Australia at the time. Within its perimeter is a 10-acre block of 1888-planted cabernet sauvignon vines. It is known as Block 42, and in exceptional years it contributes fruit to Grange and Bin 707, as well as the revered Penfolds Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Since the 1970s many new vineyards have been acquired throughout Australia in response to increasing demand and expectations of quality. These include Koonunga Hill and other vineyards in Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley. In the 1990s vineyards were established at Wrattonbully and Robe. Fruit is also sourced from vineyards in the Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills. Heathcote, in central Victoria, is also emerging as a source of warm-climate shiraz and mataro.

Since the development of Bin 144 Yattarna Chardonnay, Penfolds has looked towards cooler climate locations for chardonnay fruit sourcing, including Tumbarumba in

New South Wales, Henty in south-western Victoria and various vineyard sites in Tasmania.

Regardless of their location, the best vineyard blocks are all planted on soils with slow moisture and nutrient releasing properties including calcium carbonate, ironstone, terra rossa or heavy red clays. The vines are regulated by pruning methods, crop thinning and using natural vegetation within the rows. Dry land viticulture is practiced throughout South Australia, with only minimal watering to maintain vine health and optimum fruit quality.

Sustainability, consistency in

quality and fruit sourcing are the

key elements of Penfolds viticulture.

DEAN WILLOUGHBY, Penfolds Viticulturalist

Right: Wattle Farm Vineyard,

Clare Valley, South Australia

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