Penfolds launches 2018 collection alongside National Geographic film

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 19 October, 2018

It’s been a busy few months for the iconic Australian producer.

On Wednesday, not only did it debut a number of new releases, including a 2014 vintage under its flagship brand, Grange, it also unveiled a collaboration with National Geographic celebrating a century of Australian wine.

The 45-minute documentary, Innovators: The Rise of Australian Wine, sees Australian actor and winemaker Sam Neill team up with Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago.

As part of their journey, footage was shot at the Magill Estate and at Penfolds’ re-corking clinics in NYC and London.

Penfolds has been making wine Down Under for 175 years.

This year it is releasing The Penfolds Collection 2018, which includes the 64th consecutive release of Grange.

The 2014 release is true to what founder Max Schubert first imagined Grange should be, the company said: “A wine that can stand on its own two feet throughout the world and would be capable of improvement year on year.”

Although, there are notable differences thanks to innovations and opportunity. "Wrattonbully grapes appear in Grange for the first time,” said Penfolds’ current chief winemaker Peter Gago. “Did any of these vineyards exist in Max Schubert’s days at Penfolds? We suspect not.”

This year’s wines widens Penfolds stable of cabernets with the fifth release of Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet.

According to Gago, this wine a contemporary expression of cabernet which is only released in exceptional years to showcase the regionality.

The 2016 vintage, “Delivered to blueprint – regional, cool climate and chalky cabernet”, Gago said.

The Penfolds Collection 2018 is available now.