[TEST] This little grape, offers a whole lot more

About Penfolds

Behind The Label: Grange La Chapelle

Grange La Chapelle unites two hemispheres through one harmonious expression. French Syrah meets Australian Shiraz.

In a seamless 50:50 union, revered Shiraz from highly regarded South Australian vineyards (Grange) combines with Syrah from Hermitage, a legendary appellation of the Northern Rhône (La Chapelle). The finished wine reinterprets Grange and La Chapelle, reassembling them into one profound and celebrated wine.

With Penfolds Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago, we explore the genesis of this bold partnership, uncover how Grange La Chapelle is made, and look to its future.

Peter, can you take us back to your first encounter with La Chapelle and the impression it left upon you?

Blending across vineyards and reimagining something different to that of single-component expressions has always fascinated generations of Penfolds winemaking teams. These vineyards can be local or distant – different soils, aspects, microclimates. In recent times even the equator has not stifled this ambition! This project strived to create the most optimal Syrah/Shiraz blend possible. Ultimately, and naturally after much trialling, the blending of two flagships created a far superior outcome. An idea progressed to a reality. It would be difficult to rationalise purposely creating a lesser blend, albeit lesser risk!

How did the idea for the collaboration first emerge and evolve into Grange La Chapelle?

Blending across vineyards and reimagining something different to that of single-component expressions has always fascinated generations of Penfolds winemaking teams. These vineyards can be local or distant – different soils, aspects, microclimates. In recent times even the equator has not stifled this ambition! This project strived to create the most optimal Syrah/Shiraz blend possible. Ultimately, and naturally after much trialling, the blending of two flagships created a far superior outcome. An idea progressed to a reality. It would be difficult to rationalise purposely creating a lesser blend, albeit lesser risk!

Given Australian Shiraz cuttings’ lineage to the Rhône, how does it feel to reunite Australian Shiraz with its ancestral roots?

Many generations later, long-separated Syrah and Shiraz siblings have been reunited. In the interim, South Australia has evaded the phylloxera scourge. Climatic, geographic, language and cultural differences but a minor hurdle. Name changes not required. After a separation of a couple of centuries the family is reunited. A fated outcome.

Was the 50:50 balance something you envisioned from the beginning, or did that ideal ratio reveal itself through trials?

The initial optimal trial blend was so close to 50:50 that it quickly became apparent that this ratio was meant be. Once decided (and ‘working backwards’ from an initial blending decision) it just made long-term perfect sense to both partners. The initial 50:50 proposition has now morphed into an annual ambition, guaranteeing that both hemispheres play an equal role.

Finally, could we hope for future collaborations between Penfolds and Jaboulet?

The partnership will evolve. So far we’ve had a ‘dream run’ with this project – its energy and positivity is infectious. Both partners realise that stellar Syrah and Shiraz plantings across our combined vineyard resources offer enormous opportunity to continue innovating, trialing & surprising. Portuguese Vintage Port and Vintage Champagne are ‘declared’ only in the best of vintages. I’d envisage that this will also happen with this collaboration. We simply can’t release an ‘acceptable’ vintage. We totally understand that over time there will be intermittent ‘lesser’ Syrah/Shiraz harvests in South Australia and the Rhône Valley. Our quest is to create exceptional blends and mother nature will no doubt dictate in what years.

EXPLORE MORE FROM PENFOLDS

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[TEST] This little grape, offers a whole lot more

Read time: 1 min

From vineyard to table, this story follows the people, places and livelihoods connected to wine. It considers wine’s role in regional communities and local hospitality, and the shared moments where people come together. From regional jobs and local businesses to tourism and hospitality, wine is connected to many communities along its journey from vineyard to table. For many adults, wine can also be part of meals, celebrations and cultural traditions – alongside food, conversation and social connection. A single grape can tell a wider story. It traces that story from the vineyard through to the table bringing into view the growers, makers, venues and regional communities connected along the way. It offers a broader perspective on wine’s place in society beginning with the land and work behind it, and widening to the tables, venues and communities where people come together.

[TEST] This little grape, offers a whole lot more

Read time: 1 min

From vineyard to table, this story follows the people, places and livelihoods connected to wine. It considers wine’s role in regional communities and local hospitality, and the shared moments where people come together. From regional jobs and local businesses to tourism and hospitality, wine is connected to many communities along its journey from vineyard to table. For many adults, wine can also be part of meals, celebrations and cultural traditions – alongside food, conversation and social connection. A single grape can tell a wider story. It traces that story from the vineyard through to the table bringing into view the growers, makers, venues and regional communities connected along the way. It offers a broader perspective on wine’s place in society beginning with the land and work behind it, and widening to the tables, venues and communities where people come together.

Behind The Label: Grange La Chapelle

Peter, can you take us back to your first encounter with La Chapelle and the impression it left upon you?

How did the idea for the collaboration first emerge and evolve into Grange La Chapelle?

Given Australian Shiraz cuttings’ lineage to the Rhône, how does it feel to reunite Australian Shiraz with its ancestral roots?

Was the 50:50 balance something you envisioned from the beginning, or did that ideal ratio reveal itself through trials?

Finally, could we hope for future collaborations between Penfolds and Jaboulet?

EXPLORE MORE FROM PENFOLDS

[TEST] This little grape, offers a whole lot more

[TEST] This little grape, offers a whole lot more

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