Mary Penfold (Grantlee Kieza, HarperCollins)

Grantlee Kieza’s Mary Penfold is an intriguing biography of the Englishwoman who embraced her husband’s vision, made it her own, and turned their vineyard into one of Australia’s most enduring success stories. The book opens with Mary’s departure from England in the mid-1800s alongside her husband, Christopher Penfold, and their infant daughter. Among their few possessions were precious vine cuttings from Europe, symbols of the new life they hoped to build in South Australia. For Mary, the voyage also carried the heartbreak of leaving her parents forever. Kieza (Sister Viv, Mr and Mrs Gould) employs a nonlinear narrative, moving between Mary’s past and present, her family joys and sorrows, global history and local struggles. What emerges most strongly is Mary’s extraordinary resilience. She was more than a supportive wife and a mother; she was a pioneer, proving that women could lead in industry at a time when they were rarely acknowledged in business. The Penfolds began producing fortified wine as a tonic for Christopher’s patients but Mary soon recognised a broader ambition for their venture. Drawing on lessons from her grandfather, she understood that true success lay in creating products of enduring quality and consistency – principles she applied to her winemaking. Mary Penfold is an inspiring portrait of quiet determination transformed into a lasting legacy, and will appeal to readers interested in wine, women’s history and the history of South Australia.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Andrea Kress is a library and information officer and a book reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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