Penfolds sharpens up with $168,000 bottle

ONE of SA's most famous wines has leapt into the rarefied atmosphere of the fine art world with the release of a craft "bottle" worth $168,000.

ONE of SA's most famous wines has leapt into the rarefied atmosphere of the fine art world with the release of a craft "bottle" worth $168,000.

Penfolds this week unveiled one of its most ambitious SA-proud projects ever, a highly prized Barossa-grown red wine locked away in an "extreme" bottle created by one of the state's most renowned glass artists, Nick Mount.

The whole package - only 12 were created - has been priced by Penfolds at $168,000.

One of the rare dozen has been locked away in Penfolds museum and it's understood the first buyer has emerged from Singapore.

The piece is described by Penfolds as "the ultimate reflection of winemaking heritage, innovation and artistic collaboration".

The wine, considered by Penfolds winemaker Peter Gago as "truly magical", is the 2004 Block 42 Kalimna Cabernet Sauvignon, from Barossa cabernet vines.

The wine is contained in a glass ampoule hand-blown by South Australian craftsman Ray Leake. The ampoule is then contained within a conical, elongated plumb-bob of transparent grey glass with a ruby red cotton-reel-like top, all designed by Nick Mount.

With added precious metal detailing by Victorian Hendrik Forster, the work is contained in a bespoke Jarrah cabinet made by designer Andrew Bartlett at Adelaide's Jam Factory studios.