Here in Australia we’re pretty lucky to be home not only to multiple world-class wine regions, but some big-name labels, too. Penfolds got its start in Adelaide but has since become a major global player for its adventurous blends, a cracking shiraz, and winemaking in the USA (California), France (Bordeaux and Champagne) and China (Ningxia and Yunnan). And for a super limited time, you can sample top drops by the glass at the Penfolds Lounge in Sydney’s CBD at Pitt St Mall (from May 2-11).
Penfolds first dropped the news last month that their immersive wine tasting experience – Transcend by Penfolds – was landing in the Harbour City, but it’s since sold out. Lucky enough for local wine connoisseurs, the Penfolds Lounge is popping up alongside it, serving up gorgeous wines – and you can pop into the Lounge whenever you want, no booking needed.
Penfolds flagship, Grange 2020, is the drop everyone’s talking about, and this luxe bar is your chance to sample what might be Australia’s most famous (and opulent) shiraz.
For something a little more experimental, opt for the FWT 585, a blend of cabernet, petit verdot and merlot. The French Winemaking Trial (or FWT) is inspired by the curiosity that took Penfolds first chief winemaker Max Schubert to Bordeaux in 1950 with an idea to create a long-living red wine. The first experimental Penfolds Grange was released a year later, soon to become very well-known.
Then there’s the Bin 600 cabernet shiraz. Its grapes are grown in Californian soil, but the vines themselves hail all the way from South Australia and were cut from the Kalimna and Magill Estate vineyards, then planted in the USA in 1998. Also on offer: the Champagne cuvée brut NV, Bin 51 Eden Valley riesling 2024, Bin 311 chardonnay 2023, Yattarna chardonnay 2023, Bin 23 pinot noir 2023, Bin 28 shiraz 2022, Bin 389 cabernet shiraz 2022 and Superblend 802.B cabernet shiraz 2018.
Can't decide? Opt for the $30 tasting flight that includes the Bin 389 cabernet shiraz 2022, Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz 2021 and FWT 585 cabernet sauvignon petit verdot merlot 2021. Talk about a triple threat.
Accompany your tipple with some gourmet nibbles – there will be a delicious range of antipasto favourites including wagyu bresaola carpaccio, Sicilian olives, grilled sourdough, salmon rillettes and more.
Sample the 180-year-plus legacy of Penfolds at the Penfolds Lounge from May 2-11; it’s open from 3pm to 9pm on weekdays and from 12.30pm to 9pm on the weekend. Entry to the pop-up bar in Pitt St Mall is free, and Penfolds wines by the glass and snacks are available to purchase. Walk-ins are welcome. Find out more over here.
