Stephen’s extensive knowledge and experience has been garnered over many years working with some Australia’s iconic wineries and alongside numerous overseas vintages at such places as Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Burgundy, Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux and G.D. Other highlights in Stephen’s career include winning the title of International Red Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine
Challenge in London, winning the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show, twice winning the Max Schubert Trophy at the Adelaide Wine Show as well as being listed as one of the 50 most influential contributors to the world of wine by Decanter Magazine. SC Pannell Wines is a small, family owned winery founded 2004 by Stephen Pannell and his wife Fiona Lindquist. The winery was realised to focus on Stephen's passion for the McLaren Vale region and its ability to produce dry - grown and environmentally sustainable Shiraz and Grenache. In his capacity as Chief Red Wine Maker at Hardy’s he gained an intimate knowledge of the region’s vineyards and sub-regional differences and was able to secure exquisite parcels of old-vine Grenache and Shiraz from low yielding, dry grown fruit sources. He wanted to make wines from the region that express their sense of place and define the character and expression of McLaren Vale. To do this, he decided on using open fermentation, natural yeast and maturation in large format oak to ensure that the natural wine profile is retained. In ensuing years, Stephen has also turned to the Adelaide Hills, the escarpment which runs above the McLaren Vale in the south and continues through toward the Barossa in the North to create a series of textural, aromatic whites as well as a highly awarded cool climate Syrah. After returning from working with Aldo Vajra in Barolo in 2004 he received a request to look at a Nebbiolo vineyard in Gumeracha in the northern area of the Adelaide Hills. The vineyard is planted with five different clones, including clone 230, which is the preferred clone in Barolo and SC Pannell has been making Nebbiolo from this fantastic vineyard ever since. November 2012 has seen Stephen Pannell purchase his first vineyard in the Blewitt Springs area of McLaren Vale. This is a vineyard Stephen has coveted since his early days at Hardy’s and the building of a cellar door will ensure exciting times ahead for SC Pannell Wines.
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