Vineyards

Magill Estate

The historic and heritage protected Magill Estate Vineyard was established in 1844 by Dr Christopher Rawson and his wife, Mary Penfold just eight years after the foundation of Adelaide. It was originally known as the Grange Vineyard, named after their new homestead, 'The Grange'. This cottage still stands intact amongst the vines. In later years this vineyard would inspire and supply fruit for Penfolds Grange, the most prized of all Australian wines.

The vineyard was first planted with vine cuttings taken from the south of France. At its peak in 1949, the vineyard, planted to several different grape varieties on rich chocolaty red-brown soils, covered 120 hectares (296 acres) of gentle northwest and west facing slopes. During the 1950s and 1960s it was replanted with Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Mataro (Mourvèdre), reflecting the waning demand in fortifieds and the increasing interest in table wines. Urban pressure (largely through commercially unsustainable land rates) and compulsory acquisition gradually forced the diminution of this vineyard to its present size of 5.24 hectares (12.94 acres).

The Magill Estate Vineyard, one of the few city vineyards in the world, is now planted entirely to Shiraz. Viticulture follows organic principles, largely because of superb drainage and predictable afternoon sea breezes during the growing season.The contour-planted, dry-grown, gnarled old vines established over half a century ago are extremely low yielding and bear fruit of exceptional concentration, flavour and balance. At vintage the fruit is hand-picked block by block.The very best parcels are used for the limited release, single vineyard Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz. Most recently, in 1996 and 1998, both exceptional years, the vineyard produced parcels of very opulent powerful fruit, some of which was selected for inclusion in Penfolds Grange.