Rewards of Patience

Rewards of Patience

THE ULTIMATE PENFOLDS FORM GUIDE

Forty years. Nine Editions. Eighteen decades of stories.

Revered by collectors and consulted by wine professionals around the world, Rewards of Patience has become the ultimate reference to Penfolds wines.

First published in 1985 and now in its Ninth Edition, Rewards of Patience is updated every 5 to 6 years. Affectionately known as the ‘Penfolds Form Guide,’ it offers independent perspective, history and clarity – helping collectors understand how their wines are evolving and when they might be best enjoyed.“

"Rewards of Patience is, as far as I’m aware, unique in the world of wine.”

– Nick Ryan, Wine Writer and Ninth Edition Review Panelist

BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE REWARDS OF PATIENCE TASTINGS

The Rewards of Patience tastings are enormous undertakings achieved on a global scale. Every possible Penfolds vintage is sought out, tasted and re‑tasted to form the most complete picture of each wine’s trajectory.

For the Ninth Edition, this meant reviewing over 500 wines dating back to 1952 Grange – an ambitious assignment matched by the scale and calibre of the tasting panel. Held across Paris, Hong Kong, London and Adelaide, these sessions gather the most esteemed wine media, commentators, judges and experts. Each panel brings its own lens, contributing to a richly layered appraisal of the wine.

“This was one of the most remarkable events I have ever attended… My fellow tasters are rare beacons of excellence in this vast wine world.”

– Matthew Jukes, Wine Writer and Ninth Edition Review Panelist

Panel days may run long, but for attendees they linger long in the mind. They offer the singular opportunity to taste bottles from the Penfolds Archive alongside collector-sourced wines. Individual notes and observations are synthesised through an independent editorial lens – led since the Sixth Edition by Master of Wine Andrew Caillard.
Each vintage is assigned a star rating, ranging from ‘Exceptional’ to ‘Past’, with prior assessments updated where needed. Bottles not tasted directly are still referenced to ensure a complete historical picture, forming what Penfolds Chief Winemaker Peter Gago calls “our diary tome.”

Article: Rewards of Patience

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Each new edition requires a monumental effort. No other winery produces such an exhaustive almanac of its wines, and its evolution mirrors the story of Penfolds itself.

From its inception, Rewards of Patience was conceived as an archive wrapped in rich storytelling – an evolving chronical of Penfolds past, present and future.

“Various editions of Penfolds Rewards of Patience have assessed and chronicled so many Penfolds wines and their drinking journeys. Each edition ascends to a new level (and weight!).”

– Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker

BRINGING THE EDITION TOGETHER

Across more than 115,000 words, Caillard brings the Penfolds narrative to life. Vibrant history is detailed alongside the development of our House Style and the art of blending. As winemaker anecdotes colour individual wine biographies, they unite as the ideal backdrop to the tasting panels’ insights.

The international review panel added rigour and depth to the publication’s perspective. This commitment to precision extended to the tasting process itself. Chief Winemaker Peter Gago insists, where possible, that multiple bottles of even the rarest wines be opened. It leaves no stone unturned and is many years in the planning.

The latest edition expands the scope further, now including the full breadth of Penfolds global portfolio, exploring wines from Australia, the USA, France and China.

The result is a living record of craftsmanship, time, and ambition. With every edition, Rewards of Patience deepens our understanding of Penfolds wines and the stories they carry across decades. For collectors and connoisseurs alike, it stands as one of the most comprehensive wine references in the world.

Published in the 75th anniversary year of Penfolds Grange (1951–2026), the Ninth Edition spans vintages back to the earliest experimental Grange releases; as well as providing updated drinking windows to rare and limited wines, including Bin 60A Coonawarra Cabernet and Kalimna Vineyard Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon.

“As wine drinkers and collectors, we all need guidance and reference. This tome supports our search, and answers many of our questions – honestly, and as accurately as can be expected with ever-morphing wines and their subjective and emotive appreciation.”

– Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker

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About Penfolds

Behind the label: Grange La Chapelle

Grange La Chapelle unites two hemispheres through one harmonious expression. French Syrah meets Australian Shiraz.