SC Pannell
The story so far
Established in 2004, S.C. Pannell is a celebration of Stephen and Fiona Pannell’s adopted region of McLaren Vale.
Influenced by Stephen’s experience as Chief Red Winemaker at BRL Hardy, McLaren Vale was to prove the place from which the S.C. Pannell story began.
While recognising, and celebrating, the region’s established styles, Stephen’s belief that a benign, Mediterranean climate and a complex mosaic of ancient geology could foster a palate of varieties has led to signature wines such as Grenache, Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Aglianico, Nero d’Avola and Fiano, among others.
All reflecting the region’s climate and the Australian way of life, S.C Pannell wines are made to share with food and the people you love.
“The truly wondrous thing about great wine is that it speaks of where it comes from”
STEPHEN PANNELL – THE WINEMAKER
Stephen’s passion for creating an eclectic and colourful expression of new wine styles has been shaped by his extensive winemaking career both locally and abroad.
Influenced by his tenures at some of the leading family estates of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Barolo and Priorat, Stephen has heralded a pathway for Mediterranean varieties daring to create wines that challenge the norm of the ‘Vale and beyond.
With a trove of accomplishments to his name including International Red Winemaker of the year at the International Wine Challenge 1999; Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the year in 2015, two-time winner of the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show and the Max Schubert Trophy at the Adelaide Wine Show, Stephen’s contribution to the industry has seen him named as one of the 50 most influential contributors to the world of wine by Decanter Magazine.
Sharing his passion for wine that celebrates place, Stephen is proud to have won the Bushing Trophy for best red wine of show in McLaren Vale no less than four times: 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018 – the first winemaker in McLaren Vale history to do so.
In the words of others:
“It would be difficult to conjure a more complete all round wine guy than Steve Pannell. He really understands the vineyard, the winery, the market, the zeitgeist and wine quality. His wines result from this, so little wonder at his success.” – Huon Hooke, The Real Review
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“If there’s one winemaker who can move and shake McLaren Vale into its next stage of glory it is Pannell. He has more runs on the board than Don Bradman (obscure Aussie cricket reference for those who are wondering) when it comes to making great wine in this region and he has the leadership, vision and energy to bring others around him along for the ride.” – Nick Stock for JamesSuckling.com
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“The future of the Pannell’s is limitless, the icon status of the label already established.” – James Halliday
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“The founder of the contemporary grenache zeitgeist.” – Ned Goodwin, Halliday Wine Companion
