Penfolds has been making wine in South Australia since the 1840s, and the Bin series has been the backbone of the range for most of that time. Bin 51 comes from the Eden Valley, a high, cool corner of the Barossa zone where Riesling ripens slowly and keeps its acid.
- Riesling, the only grape in the bottle.
- Eden Valley, South Australia — high altitude, cool nights.
- 2021, a strong year for Eden Valley Riesling.
- Dry, light-bodied, high acidity, 12% ABV.
How it is made
Eden Valley sits at around 400 to 500 metres, well above the Barossa floor, and the altitude is what defines the style. Cool air slows ripening and holds the natural acidity in the grape. Riesling is picked early and vinified in stainless steel, with no oak and no malolactic fermentation, so nothing gets in the way of the fruit.
How it tastes
Lime and green apple, jasmine, and a wet slate edge that comes straight from the granite and schist soils of the valley. The acidity is high and the wine is bone dry, which is the Eden Valley signature: lean, precise, and built to hold. It will keep developing in bottle for a decade or more.
Good to know
Eden Valley Riesling is often compared to German Riesling, but it is always fermented dry, so there is no sweetness to soften the acid. The region was planted in the 1800s and some of its oldest vineyards are still in production.
