John Duval
Living Legend
Internationally renowned winemaker John Duval was only the third person to be entrusted with making Penfolds Grange. So, when he started his own label, the world was watching.
After graduating from studies in agricultural science and winemaking, John had the only job interview he’s ever had in his life. It was with Penfolds, where he rose to chief winemaker and oversaw the making of some of Australia’s most famous wine. Now crafting top-quality wines under his own label in the Barossa Valley, John’s still at the top of his game.
Securing a place in wine history
In his time as the third chief winemaker ever at Penfolds, John left an indelible mark. He took quality even further, winning coveted awards including Wine Spectator magazine’s Wine of the Year for the 1990 Grange.
“My job as chief winemaker was to be the custodian of the traditional Penfolds wines, but I also had the opportunity to develop some new wines,” says John. “That was a big, big thrill because those wines are still part of the Penfolds portfolio.”
His achievements were extra meaningful because John’s father had grown grapes for Penfolds Grange, with grape-growing stretching back five generations in the Duval family.
Internationally renowned winemaker John Duval was only the third person to be entrusted with making Penfolds Grange. So, when he started his own label, the world was watching.
After almost three decades at the pinnacle of Australian wine, John ventured out on his own, launching his label, John Duval Wines, in 2003.
“I felt more pressure actually releasing the first wine under our family label and what I did back in Grange, because I knew the industry was watching what I was going to do,” says John.
Unsurprisingly, his first wines were a hit, and sold out quickly. A respected wine writer declared, ‘Ex-Grange winemaker makes near perfect Barossa blend’.
Using grapes from some of the oldest vineyards in the Barossa, John handcrafts elegant, exceptional wines with a focus on classic reds.
“The Barossa has, we believe, the oldest Shiraz Grenache Mataro vineyards in the world,” says John. “It’s a great honour to be working with those grape-growing families.”
Now John is passing his knowledge down to his eldest son Tim, who joined the business in 2016.
“I’ve played my role in Penfolds, so I’m assuming that history will treat me kindly,” says John. “But having a premium Barossa brand is important to me. Handing over the responsibility to my son and seeing the reputation continue under a new generation I think is going to give me a big thrill.”
“The Barossa has some of the oldest vineyards in the world. It’s a great honour to work with those grape-growing families.” – John Duval
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