The eleven acre vineyard is located 10 kms south of Clare in the picturesque Skilly Hills, adjacent to the Spring Gully Conservation Park, Mitchell Wines and Kilikanoon Wines.

When purchased by Ray and Lynette Klavins, the thirty five acre property was covered with Salvation Jane, truckloads of rubbish, and consisted of a derelict, ancient, dairy/shearing shed and an equally ancient, tumbled down piggery. But ... it was in a wonderful location, had fabulous views and would grow good grapes. It just needed huge amounts of work.

In 1994 the roads went in, the dam was enlarged and the Cabernet Sauvignon was planted with the help of family and friends.

The Shiraz and Semillon followed in 1996.

Only able to attend the vineyard on weekends, the Klavins's originally lived in a tent, then moved into the stiflingly hot or bitterly cold, but always draughty, dairy.

In 1997 a move for Ray from vigneron at Southcorp to Knappstein Wines in Clare, enabled plans for the house to be realised.

A partnership with fellow Roseworthy graduate, Stephen Stafford-Brookes led to some of the 1998 vintage being made into Penna Lane's first two commercial wines, a shiraz and a cabernet. The Semillon followed in 1999.

Conversion (or should we say transformation?) of the dairy to the Cellar Door was begun in October 1999. It opened on the first day of the new millenium. Since this time the cellar door has expanded to provide light lunches and a range of condiments made from organic produce primarily from the extensive vegetable and herb garden on the property.

From very humble beginnings and an initial production of about 450 cases, the wines are now distributed along the eastern seaboard and exported to the USA and Hong Kong.

A tremendously supportive customer base has been established through mail order and the cellar door has become a busy little hub, particularly on weekends.

Penna Lane ’04 Riesling takes out Winestate Wine of the Year

Penna Lane has taken out two major awards at the Winestate 2007 Wine of the Year Awards. Penna Lane 2004 Riesling was named Riesling of the Year at the presentation dinner which was held in Adelaide last week, and then went on to win the overall Wine of the Year Trophy.

Unfortunately, we have now exhausted our limited stocks of the winning wine, but the good news is that we still have some of our 2003 Riesling on museum release. It won a trophy on release and we reckon it's every bit as good as the 04.