The Penfolds Coonawarra Story

Bin 707

First vintaged in 1964, Bin 707 is recognised as a cabernet sauvignon reflection of Grange. The winemaking blueprint is almost identical, including multi-regional fruit sourcing, partial barrel fermentation and 18 months maturation in new American oak.

Since the mid-1970s, this wine has been primarily based on Coonawarra fruit with vital input from the Barossa Valley. Full bodied and with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 retains a secure place among the ranks of Australia’s finest cabernets.

"Kalimna’s late 1880s Block 42 and Coonawarra’s Block 20 are the mother vineyards of Bin 707; they powerfully support the character and House Style of Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon.” - Steve Lienert, retired Penfolds Winemaker.



Bin 169

In 1973, Max Schubert identified a parcel of Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon he intended to blend with a select component of Kalimna shiraz – the idea being that the resulting wine would be similar to the famed 1962 Penfolds Bin 60A.

Unfortunately, the wine was not to be, and each parcel was bottled separately resulting in the experimental one-off releases of 1973 Penfolds Bin 169 Coonawarra Claret (cabernet sauvignon) and 1973 Penfolds Bin 170 Kalimna Shiraz.

Bin 169 did not appear on any label again until 2008, when Chief Winemaker Peter Gago decided to add a contemporary regional stablemate to partner the revered multi-regional Bin 707. Sourced from some of the same esteemed blocks as the 1973 experimental release, it was given the Bin designation 169 in homage.

Using some of the oldest vinestock material in Coonawarra, Bin 169 combines Penfolds red winemaking tradition with the best fruit expression available. The fruit selection is rigorous, and the wine is only made in exceptional vintages.

“Bin 169 symbolically guards Bin 707 in the same way that RWT protects Grange.”

- Andrew Hales, Penfolds Winemaker.

Our Future in Coonawarra

Beyond these wines, Coonawarra also regularly contributes prized fruit to Grange, Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon and many other Special Bins.

Each of our four successive Chief Winemakers have explored and experimented with the region. As we expand our winemaking beyond Australian borders, Coonawarra will continue to be an important contributor to our current Collection as well as new wines of the future.