Steve Pannell spreads his ambitions beyond just McLaren Vale, doing good things with grapes from as far afield as Langhorne Creek and the Adelaide Hills. This means some excellent cool-climate wines also receive Steve’s loving attentions – sauvignon blanc, riesling, pinot gris and pinot grigio among them. It’s also fair to say that Steve isn’t afraid to try a new direction or two with his winemaking, taking visitors to his McLaren Vale HQ on a tour through fields of fiano into barbera and touriga nacional country.
S.C. Pannell is also one of the bigger cellar doors in McLaren Vale, its vast terrace scoring bonus points for bedazzling views across vine-lined fields to the western sunsets. This means Pannell’s is prime territory for weddings, parties and anything else that needs a bit of elbow room. But roomy doesn’t mean a loss of personal service: you can still expect an enthusiastic tasting tour of S.C. Pannell’s diverse offerings (and several brands) here. Book ahead; groups of up to six people maximum. Tasting fees apply.
