The Barossa Valley tasting room lets you sample their celebrated Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Pinot Noir. To avoid worrying about driving after indulging in wine, opt for a day trip from Adelaide with round-trip transfers. The Barossa Ultimate Tasting is more on the pricey side but features the most famous Penfolds wines— you can often snag a spot on the day. The 1.5-hour Make Your Own Blend Tour is offered daily in the morning and afternoon, and it’s a good idea to book online.
Many Penfolds wines have the word “Bin” in their title, an acronym for “Batch Identification Number,” referring to the storage location of the wine for maturation.
Penfolds offers a unique complimentary service in the wine world: the assessment of Penfolds vintages 15 years or older for the benefit of re-corking.
If you’re lucky enough to look young, be sure to bring some ID to prove you’re of Australia’s legal drinking age of 18.
Penfolds Barossa Valley Cellar Door is a 1.5-hour trip from Adelaide via the Southern Expressway (M2) and Sturt Highway (National Highway A20). From the Sturt Highway, take the exit towards Nuriootpa/Angaston, which turns into Greenlock Road and Gawler Street. Turn right onto Barossa Valley Way and Penfolds is on the left. Another excellent option to visit Penfolds Barossa Valley is on a wine tour with shuttle service.
There’s not a bad time to visit this landmark Australian winery, steeped in both history and innovation. The winery is open daily from mid-morning to late afternoon. Spring and fall seasons offer the most pleasant weather, however, fall is typically busier at the tasting room than the springtime.
Mary and Dr. Christopher Penfold planted French grapes on their Barossa Valley property in 1844, using cuttings carried on their immigrant voyage from England. Both believed in the medicinal power of wine, but the growing medicine practice of Dr. Penfold allowed Mary to take the helm, experiment with wines, and grow the business. At her retirement in 1884, her daughter assumed responsibility for the winery, alongside her son-in-law, Thomas Hyland.
