Journey to California

A continuum of endeavour unbound by country, vine or time.

Since 1844, Penfolds commitment to quality has been underpinned by our House Style; a multi-regional sourcing philosophy and blending approach. Our single-minded focus is to create our signature House Style with every vintage and to achieve this, we don’t rely on a single factor. Fruit that has the right characteristics for Penfolds can be sourced from a single vineyard, a region, multiple regions or countries.

For 150 years, our pursuit remained within Australia’s borders. Our journey to California marked a new chapter of Penfolds history and laid the foundations of a bold winemaking alliance between the northern and southern hemispheres.

The Penfolds California Story

Since 1995, our winemaking and viticulture teams have worked on the ground in California, building our presence and knowledge of the region. The story began in Paso Robles.

Formerly known as Creston 600 Ranch, the Camatta Hills vineyard in Paso Robles was Penfolds first international acquisition and was selected for its pedigree fruit and alignment to our House Style, following years of exploration across the USA’s west coast.

In 1998, we began planting a selection of heritage vines from our Magill Estate and Kalimna vineyards at Block 30 of the newly purchased Camatta Hills Estate. Today, a total of 120 acres of the vineyard is planted equally with Kalimna and Magill Estate fruit.

These vines are thriving today and play a symbolic part in an endeavour that celebrates making wine in a different hemisphere … ‘the Penfolds way’.

- Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker

OUR CALIFORNIA REGIONS

Paso Robles

Situated halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Paso Robles is a sub-region of California’s ‘Central Coast’ and one of the fastest growing wine regions of the USA.

Both in style and approach to winemaking, Paso Robles is naturally aligned to Penfolds and proved to be an ideal stepping off point for our California journey. It is a region that both respects but isn’t bound by tradition. It is a region that both respects but isn’t bound by tradition. It is also a region that can carry our House Style, while maintaining local nuance.

Red wines from Paso Robles are characteristically full-bodied and plush, with upfront fruit character ahead of deeper layers of complexity. Fruit from the original 1998 plantings feature in Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz.

Napa Valley

Napa Valley is arguably the pinnacle of winemaking in the USA, known for producing award-winning cabernet sauvignon.

Nestled between two mountain ranges 50 miles north east of San Francisco, the region offers varied topography from valley floors to steep mountain ridges. With diverse and distinct microclimates, Napa Valley wines showcase a broad spectrum of styles, from savoury and peppery to opulent and fruit-forward.

Napa Valley AVAs of Oakville, Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain and Rutherford contribute fruit to Quantum Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bin 704 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

"Of course we can draw some similarities between premium growing regions like Napa Valley and parts of South Australia, however we also lean in to the well-defined differences. For example, the regular low-lying fog that blankets both Napa and Sonoma Valleys keeps the valley floor cool, while sun-exposure on hillside plots ensures richer and riper fruit – a complete flip of what we were used to in Australia."

- Andrew Baldwin, Penfolds Red Winemaker

Sonoma Valley

Sonoma is one of the USA’s most diverse wine growing regions. Though it sits adjacent to Napa Valley, it is remarkably distinct – in large part due to its size and the low-lying fog that rolls in from the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Sites vary across the region, each with a unique set of ripening conditions. Typically, the wines are softer and more supple, with considerable depth of flavour.

It is one of the premium sourcing regions for Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz.

"By adhering to our strict standards, from vineyard to classification, we have been able to curate wines that proudly showcase the Penfolds House Style through a Californian lens."

- Andrew Baldwin, Penfolds Red Winemaker

Grapes hanging from vineyard in Sonoma Valley

THE STORY CONTINUES

Penfolds California wines continue to be made in the Napa Valley, with Penfolds winemakers on the ground, in the cellars and vineyards. Significant effort was made to guarantee Penfolds winemaking techniques were sensitively incorporated into a Californian setting – respectful of local fruit, character and regional terroir.

"Fundamental to our success in California has been the expertise, input and support of local winemaking and viticulture teams as well as the sharing of knowledge between our two hemispheres. This enables us to confidently chase excellence with each harvest, as we care for and protect Penfolds House Style on a global level."

- Steph Dutton, Penfolds Group Winemaker

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