Future Proofing

Penfolds senior winemaker, Steph Dutton, shares her views on technology sustainability, future proofing in winemaking, and transferring knowledge to the next generation of winemakers.. 

- AMY VAN

Steph Dutton took on the role of Penfolds senior winemaker after being with the Australian wine producer for 10 years. She joined Penfolds in 2007 whilst completing her Masters of Oenology. Today her winemaking responsibilities span between South Australia and California where Penfolds operates their vineyards. She has also worked with her winemaking team in Bordeaux and China (early trial work). Steph tells us how the multi-regional brand is actively futureproofing the wine industry for the next generation.

How has technology helped in winemaking?

There’s this lovely quote, by one of my predecessors – Ray Beckwith – who worked for Penfolds for a long time and officially retired back in the 1970s. He was the oenologist who supported Max Schubert [Penfold’s former winemaker] when some of the early vintages of Grange and the Penfolds portfolio were being born.

He said that they took care of the science so that we can take care of the art. And in many ways that is true. I’m so grateful for the science that he gave us, but at the same time, it doesn’t stop there. The science continues and the developments get stronger, more savvy and more insightful.

The art continues to bubble away, but we’re looking at how technology has changed the industry in recent times. Winemaking and cellar work is very labour intensive. And