The first ever vintage of Penfolds Grange Hermitage has been sold at an auction in Melbourne, for AU$51,750.

Penfolds Grange 1951 sold for over $50,000

MW Wines posted on its Instagram account ‘Last night this incredible bottle of first vintage Grange sold for $51,750 at auction – believed to be a record price paid for 1951 Penfolds Grange in Australia.’

‘A great result for [the] vendor and an amazing addition to the buyer’s collection.’

Penfolds Grange, predominantly made with Shiraz and normally including a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon, has long been considered one of Australia’s finest wines.

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It is one of the highest prices paid for an Australian wine at auction.

The 1951 vintage was not commercially available but given to friends and family by Penfolds’ original winemaker, Max Schubert. It is thought that fewer than 20 bottles of it remain in the world.

This bottle had been tasted at the Penfolds recorking clinic by Penfolds’ current winemaker, Peter Gago.

If wines are declared in good condition, they are slightly topped up with the current vintage and recorked.

It is then signed and given a certification – giving a proof of authenticity at auctions.

A bottle of the 1951 was sold in 2004 for AU$50,200.

In 2014, Penfolds marked the 170th anniversary with a special release of the 2010 vintage which sold for AU$60,000.

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Ellie Douglas
Ellie Douglas
Digital Editor

Ellie Douglas is digital editor at Decanter.

She has worked at Decanter since 2013, when she joined as editorial assistant, then moving to the web team as assistant web editor in 2015.

Over her years at Decanter, Ellie has helped to significantly grow Decanter’s social media presence and with the launch of Decanter Premium in 2017.

She holds her WSET Level three in Wine, and in 2018 was shortlisted for PPA Digital Content Champion of the Year.