Music, like wine, takes us to another place: Penfolds unveils record player with secret drawer

This Penfolds record player honors the birth of Australian vintner’s prized flagship wine.

Penfolds unveils a limited edition record player console to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Grange, a high-end Australian wine, made predominantly from the Shiraz (Syrah) grape and usually a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is widely considered one of Australia’s “first growth” and its most collectable wine. The term “Hermitage”, the name of a French wine appellation, was commonly used in Australia as another synonym for Shiraz or Syrah. Penfolds is owned by Treasury Wine Estates.

Only seven individually crafted pieces have been produced globally, paying homage to the “all in one” console design from the 1950s – the same decade the prestigious Grange wine was first created by Max Schubert. Max Schubert AM (9 February 1915 – 6 March 1994) was a pioneering Australian winemaker who is best known as the creator of Grange Hermitage. Schubert was included in the Sydney Morning Herald’s 100 most influential Australians of the century, which was published in 2001.

“Music, like wine, takes us to another place. It so effortlessly conveys life recollections of important times and places.” – Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker.

Max Schubert loved music. When entertaining guests at his home, Schubert’s record player would accompany any get together – with wine and music always the focal point.

Bringing together time-honoured analog electronics with digital technology, each luxury console has been handcrafted in the tradition of fine bench-made furniture by SYMBOL Audio.

Created by a single craftsman using time-honoured techniques totaling 100 hours of work, each console is designed to deliver audiophile sound enriching the connection between the listener and their music.

A rare ‘White Capsule’ release Grange magnum duo from the 2010 and 2017 vintage feature within the hidden wine console compartment, alongside a suite of luxury accessories including a hand blown Grange Decanter, crafted by leading Australian glass artist and designer, Nick Mount.

PENFOLDS GRANGE Wine 2010

Deep crimson. Intense pure elderberry, blackberry and liquorice aromas with roasted chestnut, vanilla and camomile notes. Plush and densely packed with elderberry, blackberry liquorice flavours, plentiful fine chalky tannins and underlying mocha, vanilla and roasted chestnut oak notes. Finishes chocolaty firm with abundant sweet fruits. Classical, powerful and expressive Grange with superb density, richness and balance. Still needs time to unfold. Drink 2030 – 2060.

PENFOLDS GRANGE Wine 2010 2017 (yet to be released)

Deep, bright crimson-red. Explore savoury aromas of pastrami, ground cumin, sticky rice pudding, apricot, vanillin pod and coconut husk. The palate is laden with shiraz fruits. Red and black liquorice, burnt vanilla marshmallow and dark chocolate notes. Finishes velvety, rather than blocky at this youthful stage in bottle. Tannins are tight, creating a dense coating. Drink 2027 – 2060.