Penny’s Hill Wines hits the market as pioneering founder prepares to step down
One of McLaren Vale’s best known wineries is up for sale as its pioneering founder prepares to step down.
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One of McLaren Vale’s best known wineries has hit the market as its pioneering founder prepares to step down after three decades in the industry.
Known for its distinctive “red dot” packaging, Penny’s Hill Wines has grown to become one of the region’s major producers, with annual sales of close to 600,000 bottles from the Penny’s Hill, Black Chook and Thomas Goss brands.
The business was established by Tony and Susie Parkinson in 1988 when they acquired grazing land on the foothills east of McLaren Vale.
The first vineyards were planted in 1991 and further acquisitions were made in the 1990s, culminating in the purchase of the Ingleburne homestead, between McLaren Vale and Willunga in 1998.
The original homestead of the Goss family – pioneering farmers and winemakers in the region – has since been home to the Penny’s Hill cellar door, restaurant, gin bar, art gallery and function room, which form part of the sale.
According to winery specialists Langley & Co, who are selling the business, the sale also includes 23ha of vineyard, boutique accommodation, offices, temperature controlled warehouses and access to an established distribution network across Australia and in the US.
The company described Penny’s Hill as “one of South Australia’s great wine estates and iconic destinations”.
“The initial vineyards were planted from 1991 and further acquisitions were made between 1993 and 1996,” the wine broker says in its marketing material.
“In 1997, Penny’s Hill launched its distinctive red dot packaging with 141 cases of vintage 1995 estate-grown shiraz.
“The historic Ingleburne property between the McLaren Vale and Willunga townships was acquired in 1998 and the rich foundations of a flourishing wine business were laid.
“30 years on, the retirement of the visionary founder ‘Parky’ beckons, and the opportunity for the next custodian presents.”
Penny’s Hill has won a string of awards over the years, including the Best of Show – Australian Red award for its 2019 Skeleton Key Shiraz at this year’s Mundus Vini Grand International Wine Awards in Neustadt, Germany.
Mr Parkinson did not return calls. Langley & Co.’s Toby Langley declined to comment.
Expressions of interest close on December 10.
Originally published as Penny’s Hill Wines hits the market as pioneering founder prepares to step down
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