Penfolds, one of the world’s most iconic wine producers, has officially released its much-anticipated 2025 Collection—an extraordinary showcase of 24 wines sourced from four winemaking regions: Australia, the United States, France, and China. While each wine in the collection reflects its own distinct regional character, they are all unified by the unmistakable Penfolds “House Style”—a winemaking philosophy built on consistency, boldness, and balance, regardless of origin.
The 2025 Collection is a testament to the brand’s global evolution and continued pursuit of excellence, with highlights that span flagship releases, experimental debuts, and regionally inspired innovations. Leading this year’s portfolio is the legendary Grange, which continues to uphold its reputation as Penfolds’ crown jewel and one of the world’s most revered fine wines.
Grange 2021: A Vintage of Conviction and Complexity
This year’s Grange 2021 arrives to great fanfare, boasting two perfect 100-point scores and an additional seven 99-point ratings from critics around the globe. The vintage underscores the enduring brilliance of this Shiraz-led blend and reaffirms its place at the pinnacle of the fine wine world.
“If this is your first sip of Grange, then expect the unexpected,” said Peter Gago, Penfolds’ Chief Winemaker. “A style, a blend, an experience. Buoyant, layered, accessible. Just released, compelling flavours and a liberated structure immediately tempt… when to open, when to share? This Grange will not disappoint. In about 30 years, we may be more confidently able to tell you just how it ranks!”
Gago’s poetic reflection captures the spirit of Grange—a wine defined as much by its historical prestige as by its evolving legacy. Though decades of acclaim may tempt winemakers to rest on laurels, Penfolds insists on looking forward, with innovation and experimentation serving as the cornerstones of its future.
A Legacy Born from Experimentation
In fact, Gago reminds us that even Grange began as a trial. The first vintage of Grange was crafted in 1951 as an experimental blend—one that defied conventions and shocked traditionalists. It is this same spirit of audacious creativity that Penfolds continues to embrace across continents.
“Some of our most revered wines started life as experiments,” Gago noted. “Grange, now nearing its 75th anniversary, began as an unorthodox trial. Today, trial and experimentation remain at the heart of Penfolds, particularly in Bordeaux, where our team continues to evolve our French Winemaking Trial.”
This year’s Collection includes two compelling wines from that very program: the 2022 FWT 585 Cabernet Merlot Petit Verdot and the newly introduced 2022 FWT 543 Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah—each a bold example of cross-cultural winemaking ambition.
Breaking Ground in Bordeaux: FWT 543 and FWT 585
With the introduction of FWT 543 Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah, Penfolds reinterprets a quintessentially Australian blend—Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz—through a French lens. Labeled as Vin de France, the FWT 543 is an exciting departure from traditional Bordeaux blends, combining the structure of Cabernet with the texture and spice of Syrah in a uniquely modern way.
“This is a French trialling first,” said Gago. “It reimagines the classic Australian red blend with French terroir and technique. Over time, and with brave sourcing and winemaking ambition, we await its ascent to Bin status.”
Similarly, the FWT 585 continues to demonstrate the technical prowess and vision of the French-based winemaking team. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, the wine is crafted with finesse and precision, offering a classic yet innovative expression of the Bordeaux varietal trifecta.
These French wines are part of a broader Penfolds strategy to establish truly international wines that uphold the House Style while showcasing regional diversity. The results are wines that are simultaneously grounded in tradition and driven by progress—a rare feat in the world of fine wine.
Cabernet-Shiraz: A Blend That Transcends Borders
The union of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz is deeply ingrained in Penfolds’ DNA. Known for delivering richness, structure, and aging potential, the blend has long defined Penfolds’ most celebrated bottlings—Bin 389, Bin 600, Bin 180, and the Superblend 802 A and 802 B.
Gago pointed to the international success of the inaugural 2018 Bin 600 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, sourced from California’s vineyards, as a signal of global enthusiasm for the blend. “It works. Using a 65-year-old Bin 389 style template, the immediate acceptance of Bin 600 emboldened our French team to push further,” he said.
The debut of FWT 543, then, is not just a new wine—it’s a cross-continental continuation of a winemaking philosophy rooted in harmony, adaptability, and excellence.
The 2025 Collection: Unified by House Style
From the legendary Grange to emerging trials like FWT 543, the Penfolds 2025 Collection serves as a vibrant illustration of the Penfolds ethos: to pursue quality and character above all, regardless of borders. Whether from the sun-drenched vineyards of South Australia, the coastlines of California, the châteaux of Bordeaux, or the emerging terroirs of China, each wine carries the bold signature of Penfolds House Style.
This distinctive red thread that runs through the Collection connects not only the wines but also the generations of winemakers behind them. It is a philosophy that allows Penfolds to source the best grapes globally and craft wines that reflect both place and personality.
More than just a wine release, the 2025 Collection is a statement—a declaration that tradition and innovation are not mutually exclusive, but essential partners in the journey of modern winemaking. By continuing to experiment, evolve, and challenge convention, Penfolds ensures its legacy remains as dynamic as the wines it produces.
