Penfolds Launches New Champagne

When it comes to high-quality Australian wine, Penfolds is the name that springs to mind for us and for many others no doubt.

In 1844, Dr. Chrstopher Penfold and wife, Mary Penfold made the daunting move from England all the way over to Australia. Crucially, they stopped at France for vine cuttings and when these were planted at the Magill Estate near Adelaide, Penfolds was born. To celebrate their 180th birthday this year, they’ve given quite the present to themselves and us.

We’re big fans of Penfolds because they are just so reliable, no matter your budget. Indeed, they’ve provided many a wine for our Bring a Bottle podcast. If you see a Penfolds bottle on a shelf, you know that what’s inside won’t disappoint… and there really aren’t that many producers you can say that about.

We’ve luxuriated in their fantastic Shiraz range for a long time, but this isn’t about classic Aussie reds, this is about bubbles. More specifically, the Penfolds New Cuvée Brut Champagne. Working with Champagne Thiénot and expanding their links with France that started everything 180 years ago, Penfolds’ Chief Winemaker Peter Gago and Champagne Thiénot’s Chef de Cave Nicolas Uriel have conceived the project.

Not only did Penfolds originate with French vines, but legendary winemaker Max Schubert also learnt from Bordeaux ideas and techniques for Penfold’s iconic 1951 Grange, their most famous wine. All these years later, and the focus remains on intertwining French methods with Penfold’s classic house style.

This new Champagne follows Penfolds’ inaugural release of three 2012 vintage Champagnes at The Ritz Paris in 2019. Since then, they’ve been working at getting increasingly involved with on-the-ground winemaking in France, setting up at La Place de Bordeaux, Château Cambon la Pelouse and others. So, whilst this release looks back and celebrates 180 years of winemaking, it also seems like the beginning of something very exciting (and delicious).

The product of this luxury collaboration will be released across the globe later in the year in September 2024, expected to price at around $79 Australian Dollars, around £41.

Champagne Comes From Russia – Or So Putin Says

We all know how it goes: Champagne is Champagne because Champagne is made in Champagne, which makes it Champagne. Pretty simple, right? Well, due to a recent announcement in Russia, that’s not the case anymore. We have a feeling the notoriously specific French wine authorities aren’t going to be happy about this.

The big man, Putin himself, has signed legislation stating that imported Champagne not made in Russia can no longer label itself as Champagne (though it can tell you where it was made on the back label). Instead, only sparkling wines made in Russia have the privilege of being named Shampanskoye (Russian for Champagne).

However, wine enthusiasts and sommeliers in Russia aren’t in such a rush to change things around. According to The Guardian, sommeliers such as Elena Lebedeva, the head sommelier for a group of very popular Russian bars, aren’t going to be changing the menus. “If we are selling namely [French] champagne, it’s going to remain in the champagne section”, said Lebedeva.

Russia imports a staggering 50 million liters of sparkling wine each year, 13% of which is French Champagne. Russian sparkling wine is not nearly as popular, with some bottles being sold for the equivalent of £2.70 in stores. With this new law in place, it’s likely that French Champagne houses will either significantly reduce or even halt their exports to Russia - leaving Russia not able to meet the needs of their mega-rich. Moët’s Moscow office has already declared that they will be refusing to export their Champagne to Russia if a solution cannot be found, clearly hesitant to have to overhaul the branding of their exports to Russia.

We’re quite curious as to which appellation Putin is thinking of claiming in the near future. Perhaps he’ll fancy some Roquefort, a Cornish Pasty, a Melton Mowbray pork pie… Who knows? Watch this space!

Want to read more drinks news? How about checking out Cocktails for Dogs… yep, they’re a thing! Or maybe funky drinks such as this Dill Pickle Hard Seltzer is more up your street?!