Inside the story of Penfolds Grange, a wine that redefined a nation’s place in the world of fine wine
Powerful yet poised, collectible yet deeply expressive, Grange has become one of the most recognised icons in the world of fine wine.
But the story of Grange is not simply one of prestige. It is a story of conviction—of a winemaker who believed Australia could produce a red wine capable of standing alongside the great wines of Europe, and who pursued that vision with unwavering determination.
What began as a radical experiment would ultimately reshape the global perception of Australian wine.
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One man’s pursuit of a wine built to last
In the austere years following World War II, Max Schubert, Penfolds’ first Chief Winemaker, returned to Australia from his trip to Bordeaux, France, with a bold idea: to create a red wine from Australian fruit that could age for decades.
At Penfolds, he began quietly experimenting, crafting what would become his first experimental Grange in 1951–named after ‘Grange Cottage’, the first Australian home of Penfolds’ founders, Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold.
The result was the first experimental vintage of what would later become Grange. Rich, structured and unapologetically powerful, it was unlike anything being produced in Australia at the time.
Yet innovation rarely finds immediate acceptance. When the early vintages were presented internally, they were deemed too unconventional and production was ordered to stop.
Undeterred, Schubert quietly persisted, continuing to craft a handful of “hidden” vintages while refining the wine’s now-signature style.
“”- Max Schubert
From rejected experiment to global benchmark
By the early 1960s, persistence gave way to proof.
When Penfolds Grange was finally reintroduced, the once-questioned experiment quickly began to command global attention. Critics, judges, and collectors recognised what Schubert had long believed: that Australia could produce a red wine of extraordinary depth and longevity.
In the decades that followed, Grange would become one of the most consistently celebrated wines in the world.
With an unbroken lineage of vintages since 1951, it has earned more than 0 perfect scores from leading critics across its nearly 75-year history.
Moments that define the world of Penfolds Grange
A collaboration with Europe’s oldest glassmaker paid tribute to the art of wine service–reimagining the ritual long associated with Grange through exquisite crystal craftsmanship.
The union of two icons in an unexpected creative dialogue: a compelling 50:50 blend of Shiraz from South Australia’s most esteemed vineyards and the rare and expressive Syrah of the Northern Rhône.
Inspired by the Japanese fashion icon’s visit to Magill Estate, Range BY NIGO is the first-ever creative takeover of Grange that transforms its gift box into a collectible expression.
In 2021, a bottle of the 1951 Grange (the inaugural vintage) sold for over $150,000—setting a record for the most expensive Australian wine ever sold.
Together, these milestone moments reflect a wine that continues to evolve—remaining as relevant today as it is revered. Today, Grange stands not merely as a celebrated label, but as one of the defining benchmarks of fine wine.
