The S.C. Pannell label was established in 2004 by Stephen Pannell and his wife Fiona, although his journey into winemaking began much earlier. Raised at Moss Wood in Margaret River—one of Australia’s most iconic boutique wineries—Steve was immersed in wine from a young age.
He went on to build an impressive career, working with some of Australia’s leading producers including Wirra Wirra, Hardy’s Tintara and BRL Hardy, where he served as Chief Red Winemaker from 1999 to 2003. International experience followed, with vintages at Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Burgundy, Château Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux and G.D. Vajra in Barolo.
S.C. Pannell was created to focus on Steve’s passion for McLaren Vale and its ability to produce dry-grown, environmentally sustainable Shiraz and Grenache. His philosophy is simple—“wines that are grown, not made”—resulting in wines that are expressive of place, balanced and made to be enjoyed with food.
His career has been widely recognised, including International Red Winemaker of the Year (1999), Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year (2015), and being named one of the 50 most influential contributors to the world of wine by Decanter. He has also been described by international critics as “one of the greatest Australian winemakers of his generation.”