Penfolds Partners Vietnamese-Australian Celebrity Chef Luke Nguyen

The year-long partnership will see more interesting pairings between Australian wine and Asian cuisine curated by Chef Luke Nguyen and Penfolds.

Penfolds has partnered with Vietnamese Australian celebrity chef Luke Nguyen for a year-long collaboration which kicks off next week. Best known for its flagship red wine Grange, Penfolds has always believed in relentlessly pushing boundaries with determination, courage and innovation – values also embodied by chef Luke.

Chef Luke’s philosophy for Vietnam House is the use of quality ingredients and an elevated dining experience for a modern and contemporary take on Vietnamese cuisine. Similarly, the magic of Penfolds begins in the vineyard with a winemaking philosophy unbound by country, vine or time. Over a 175-year history, the selection of vineyard sites and quality of fruit have always underpinned Penfolds reputation and this endeavour now continues with the winery’s courageous venture into California and France. 

The partnership with chef Luke will be activated first through his upscale restaurant, Vietnam House Restaurant. According to a recent study1 conducted by Penfolds, Vietnamese wine drinkers place high importance on having the wine match their food. To help consumers appreciate the pairing between Australian flavours and local cuisine, chef Luke will be serving premium Penfolds wines to enjoy alongside the local flavours. The variety of wines that highlight this partnership consists Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay, Penfolds Bin 8 Shiraz, Penfolds Bin 23 Pinot Noir, Penfolds Bin 389 Shiraz Cabernet, Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz, and Penfolds Club Tawny.

“We are excited to launch this partnership with chef Luke. From humble beginnings, chef Luke continued to innovate and set his sight on the future – he opened Vietnam House wanting to pay homage to his Vietnamese roots, adding a dash of rebellion and a lot of creativity. His story is truly aligned with Penfolds’ pioneering spirit, and I am excited to see the creative food and wine pairings that will come out of this partnership,” said Irene Kong, Marketing Director, Penfolds International. 

“I am thrilled to be working with Penfolds, as I’ve always admired this incredible, iconic wine brand. Being Vietnamese Australian, cooking quality Vietnamese dishes and pairing it with Penfolds’ premium wines, makes the perfect partnership. My ambition at Vietnam House is to elevate Vietnamese cuisine. So for me, Penfolds plays a big part in this journey,” added chef Luke.

In celebration of the partnership, diners at Vietnam House will get to enjoy a complimentary Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet glass on arrival for dinner2 every Tuesday & Thursday from 6pm while stock last (applicable from 15th October to 30th November 2022). An intimate wine dinner, personally hosted by Chef Luke and Penfolds Head of Brand Ambassadors Sam Stephens, will be held on 2 November and is now open for booking via Vietnam House website and phone, more details in the Annex.