House debates

Monday, 31 August 2020

Statements by Members

Penfolds

4:35 pm

Photo of James StevensJames Stevens (Sturt, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate a local business in my electorate who have recently done very well in the world's best vineyards list that was released a few weeks ago. Of course I'm talking about Penfolds's Magill Estate in the heart of my electorate of Sturt, which has been found to be the 24th-best winery cellar door in the world. I think it's probably better than that, but being 24th is still impressive! Of course it topped the list for Australia, so according to this index it's the best winery cellar door in Australia. I agree with that and congratulate them on that achievement.

The winery was established in 1844, when Christopher and Mary Penfold emigrated to Adelaide from the United Kingdom. They brought some grape clippings with them. Christopher Penfold was a general practioner and he believed there was a lot of medicinal benefit in alcoholic beverages, so he initially produced ports and sherries and expanded into the table wines that they're very famous for today. Not many people would need to be told about Penfolds in recent years and the work of Max Schubert in the fifties and sixties producing the Grange Hermitage et cetera, but I congratulate them on quite rightly being recognised as the best winery in Australia.