Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) continued to celebrate the 175^th anniversary of Penfolds, with an exclusive dinner attended by the company’s retail and distribution partners, in addition to members of the media, last week in Cannes during the TFWA World Exhibition on 30 September.

 

The dinner was expertly curated by the Treasury Wine Estates team who collaborated with the chef, Bruno Verzenni, at Le Park 45 restaurant – within the Grand Hotel on the Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes – to compile a menu perfectly suited to the complex flavours of the Penfolds wine portfolio.

 

Following a champagne reception featuring a vintage from House Thiénot, guests were seamlessly navigated through their culinary journey by Penfolds Chief Winemaker and wine legend, Peter Gago.

 

“Who would have thought that 5-10 years ago we would be tasting Champagne with a Penfolds stamp on it,” said Gago at the beginning of the dinner, alluding to the fact that this was a major milestone for the company and part of its evolution. “This is what the next 175 years is going to be about.”

 

As reported, TWE launched three new Champagnes in DF&TR following a new collaboration between Australian winemaker Penfolds and family-owned Champagne House Thiénot.

 

The new champagnes will mark Penfold’s 175th anniversary and the first of the releases, the 2012 Champagne Thiénot x Penfolds Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvée, was first made available in June with Heinemann (Sydney) at an RRP of AUD$280.00 ($194).

 

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At the celebratory dinner, Langoustines and scallops served with red kuri squash gnocchi were paired with a Yattarna Chardonnay 2009, while Bruno Verzenni’s roast duck and foie gras (with assorted seasonal fruit and veg) perfectly complemented three unique reds; St Henri Shiras 2004, Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 and the elusive Bin 7 Coonwarra Cabernet Kalimna Shiraz 1967.

 

Finally, guests were treated to mature taleggio cheese with Banyul figs and rocket paired with Grange 2008 followed by a dessert of Madagascar chocolate and cocoa nib biscuit served with whipped cream and Timut pepper ice cream, paired by Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 1998.

 

In his address to dinner guests, Simon Carter, General Manager, Travel Retail, Treasury Wine Estates, extended his thanks to all who have supported TWE and insisted that this was ‘the year to discover more about Penfolds’.

 

The dinner at the TFWA Exhibition in Cannes followed TWE’s announcement that it had installed its first-ever bespoke Penfolds Wine and Champagne Bar in the travel retailer’s World Duty Free store at Heathrow Terminal 5.

 

This unique installation – open until 22 October – serves as a showcase for select Penfolds wines, with the hero being the recently released Penfolds limited edition Champagne, jointly developed by Penfolds and Champagne House Thiénot.