Penfolds Grange Tours: Magill Adelaide

It is now almost 160 years since the Penfold family migrated to South Australia, and Doctor Penfold opened a medical practice. Like many medicos, Doctor Penfold was a firm believer that fortified wines were beneficial in treating some of the ailments of his patients.

His flourishing medical practice was soon outgrown by the demand for his wines, and Penfolds Winery was born. Since those early colonial days, Penfolds and South Australia have grown together. Penfolds is now synonymous with the very best of the winemakers craft, and a label that recognisable throughout the world.

Adelaide has also grown in the intervening 15 decades since Doctor Penfold planted his first vineyard at Magill. The remaining 5 hectares of that original vineyard are almost surrounded by suburbia, and provides a unique setting for the Magill Estate Restaurant that opened in 1995. From the restaurant, and surrounded by 5 hectares of Shiraz vines, diners and visitors can enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of Adelaide and suburbs.

The 5-star restaurant offers diners ‘modern Australian cuisine’, a partnership of South Australian regional produce and Penfolds premium wines. Penfolds Magill Estate continue to operate, producing a small number of red wines, including Magill Estate Shiraz, made in the original wax-lined fermentation tanks. Tours of the winery with an expert guide are popular, and visitors have the opportunity to learn the history and philosophy that have made Penfolds a household name.

Another rewarding experience is the ‘Great Grange Tour’, involving a tour of the historic ‘Grange Cottage’, and a tutored tasting of a variety of premium wines, including the world-famous Penfolds ‘Grange’.

Magill Estate Winery is open every day, with cellar door sales and wine tasting from 10.30am until 4.30. Winery tours costing $15 per adult are conducted daily at 11am and 3pm, and bookings are recommended. The comprehensive tours are of approximately 45 minutes duration. Included is the bluestone vintage cellar where Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz is made, access to the maturation cellars and is acompanied by an informative commentary concerning barrel maturation, and the use of oak.

The history of the Penfold family’s legacy of 15 decades of fine wine making is displayed, together with an inspection of 50 consecutive vintages of Penfolds ‘Grange’ Shiraz in the underground tunnels.The tour concludes in the old Distillery, now used as the cellar door sales and tasting area.

An exclusive tour is marketed as ‘Penfolds Great Grange Tour’, and provides the opportunity to view the historic ‘Grange’ cottage built in 1844, experience wine making processes in the restored Magill Estate Winery. Appropriately, the Max Schubert Room is the setting for a tasting of the world renowned Grange, together with other premium Penfold wines. This tour is available only by appointment, and requires a minimum of 5 people.

Further information is available from Penfolds Magill Estate Winery, 78 Penfolds Road Magill, South Australia 5072, phone (08) 8301 5569, fax (08) 8301 5588, or Email penfolds.magill@cellar-door.com.au

See Keith Conlon's Grange Tour of Penfolds Magill Estate

Text & Photo supplied by Penfolds Magill Estate