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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
Grange is arguably Australia’s most celebrated wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. Grange boasts an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951 and clearly demonstrates the synergy between Shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia. Grange utilises fully-ripe, intensely-flavoured and textured Shiraz grapes. The result is a unique Australian style that is now recognised as one of the most consistent of the world’s great wines. The Grange style is the original and most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district, blending philosophy.
Wine Information
Penfolds 1956 Grange is extremely rare - a curio and valuable collector's item. Well cellared bottles may show fully developed fruit and lacy tannins but most are past their best. A lighter Grange which spent less time (about nine months) in oak and was bottled early. Bottles labelled Bin numbers 14 and 53. The 1956 included a small amount (4 per cent) of Cabernet Sauvignon. From humble beginnings in the 1950s, Grange has maintained it's place as Australia's most prestigious red wine, and one of history's most unique.
Penfolds Grange Hermitage was Max Schubert's everlasting contribution to the Australian wine industry. Through adversity and technological limitations, Max endeavoured to create the ultimate Cuvee, and to establish a heritage of great Australian vintages. From fruit grown at the Magill Estate and Morphett Vale in the Adelaide Hills, and Kalimna Vineyard in the Barossa Valley. A cooler than average growing season was followed by cool to mild conditions at vintage. Maturation for nine months in American oak hogsheads. Alcohol 13.0% pH 3.7
Penfolds Grange is a wine of extraordinary dimension and power. Richly textured, intensely concentrated and packed with fruit sweetness, these wines, regardless of vintage, require medium to long-term cellaring. Initially bold and syrup-like in their depth of robust fruit intensity, they develop into immensely complex, beguiling wines that seduce the senses. An Australian icon, Grange represents a tradition in winemaking that is totally uncompromising. Winemaker comments by Max Schubert: Medium brick red. Aromatic leathery/o ld parchment/ mocha nose. The palate is medium concentrated with leather/ mocha/ dark chocolate flavours and sweet lacy tanins. Finishes quite firm and acidic.
Vuosikerta 1956
Australia / Below average rainfall and a relatively dry vintage led to low yields and an average year for Barossa wines.
In 1956 there were 7,476 hectares of vines in the Barossa and 23,986 tonnes of wine grapes were crushed in that vintage.
The first 'pearl' style sparkling wine ever made in Australia, 'Barossa Pearl' was produced in Orlando by adding grape juice to dry white wine and re-fermenting in pressure tanks. This affordable sparkling white wine in the distinctive keel-shaped bottle was launched on Guy Fawkes Day, November 5, and immediately became one of Australia's great winemaking and marketing success stories.
During a year of innovations led by Technical Director Colin Gramp, Orlando also ordered the first Seitz semi-automatic sterile bottling line and launched the first Spaetlese Barossa Riesling.