The story of Grange began with a side trip to Bordeaux in 1950, where a wine ‘capable of staying alive for a minimum of twenty years’ first entered Max Schubert’s mind. His first experimental vintage in 1951 began a new way of thinking that would eventually lead to a signature wine style, but not before Grange was discredited and Max Schubert was forced to make the wine in secrecy.
Inspired by his trip and the venerable wines of Bordeaux, Max Schubert dreamt of making a full-bodied, well-balanced red wine capable of aging. On his return to Australia, Max began experimenting with shiraz fruit from Magill Estate and Morphett Vale. Combining tradition, new ideas from Bordeaux and scientist Ray Beckwith’s groundbreaking findings, Max crafted his first experimental Grange in 1951 – named after ‘Grange Cottage’ – the first Australian home of our founders, Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold.
1957 marked a critical juncture in Grange’s evolution and Schubert’s dream. A tasting for senior management and wine experts rendered unfavourable criticism, leading to Grange’s dismissal by the Penfolds board. Undeterred, Max persevered. He embarked on a secret endeavour at the Magill underground cellars, and in partnership with Jeffrey Penfold Hyland, three ‘hidden’ Grange vintages (1957, 1958, 1959) were produced. By 1960, the board recognised the value of wine aging, and Grange was triumphantly reinstated, solidifying its ascent to the icon it is today.
