It’s been an incredible evolution. My early years were dedicated to Koonunga Hill, deepening my understanding of the Penfolds House Style and history. By 2020, I was working closely with Andrew Hales, overseeing vineyards across Padthaway, Wrattonbully, Coonawarra, and Robe. In 2021, my first vintage in France marked the start of an entirely new chapter. My responsibilities also expanding to include Max’s Cabernet. By 2022, I was working across Cellar Reserve, One By Penfolds, and Bin 8 Shiraz Cabernet. Since 2023, I have been spearheading our French portfolio, driving its growth and refinement, before moving to Bordeaux in early 2024. Today, I oversee the production of our wines in France. It’s about understanding the fruit, the terroir and the regions we’re working with, and seeing how the fruit responds to those treatments, while still keeping that Penfolds House Style. 

Being hands-on during ferment rounds, gradings, and blending – working at the bench alongside our incredible winemaking team has been invaluable. Understanding the subtle nuances that define Penfolds style took time, but when it clicked, it solidified my sense of belonging. Another milestone was my first vintage in France – a true test of everything I had learned. A new region, new challenges, and a different language, but seeing the final wines come together was incredibly rewarding. Working alongside the team on the ground was equally inspiring.

Every day brings something different, but it always starts with a deep focus on quality. During vintage, I’m hands-on with vineyard assessments, managing fermentation, and guiding style to ensure we achieve the highest standards. Beyond vintage, I oversee Penfolds French wine portfolio, mainly focusing on FWT 585 Cabernet Merlot Petit Verdot. Our role as winemakers is all-encompassing, from the vineyard to the bottle. However, our role extends beyond winemaking sometimes – we engage with trade partners, media, internal teams, and, most importantly, our collectors to shape the Penfolds experience.

I’m working closely with the teams on the ground to strengthen our presence here in Bordeaux – expanding our sourcing and securing high quality fruit for our Bordeaux blends that align with Penfolds House Style. Beyond that, I’m also working closely with teams to align our Penfolds ways of working globally – this includes fruit selection, fermentation management, maturation all the way through to bottling. 

Bordeaux is an old-world, traditional winemaking region. The Bordeaux classification system is structured around a hierarchy that reflects quality and reputation of its vineyards. There are specific rules regarding grape varieties, winemaking techniques, and geographical boundaries. The Penfolds House Style of multi-regional blending, and in the case of France, multi-appellation blending, is a new concept for many in Bordeaux. We are pushing the boundaries by blending all over Bordeaux and searching for high quality parcels. 

I’ve always been quite driven in my career but being part of a winery like Penfolds feels like being part of something much larger – a family. I draw inspiration from the winemaking team I work alongside. It’s easy to love what you do when you work with people who share the same passion for the wines. The quality of fruit we work with and the endless opportunities make it all the more rewarding.

Determination and conviction is essential – having clear goals and pushing yourself to reach them while also learning from setbacks helps guide your growth.

Matt Woo: South Australia is definitely home to me. We have beaches, rivers, hills, fantastic produce and amazing wine - it’s a vibrant place.

The Barossa and the greater Adelaide region are wonderfully diverse. Food and wine culture are strong, with all regions proudly championing what they do well. Away from wine and food, you will find me riding my Harley Davidson with a group of friends. The Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula being favourite haunts.