Amadeus Francis Symonds was a local preacher, Justice of the Peace and chairman of Para Wirra district, he took up land at Chain of Ponds in 1848. The first bible christian Methodist services in the district were held at his old farm house, continuing until he laid foundations for the local church. One of the earliest vineyard wineries ever mentioned in the local Adelaide Hills papers, much of the fruit grown to Chain of Ponds has been a component of Penfolds most memorable vintages, the finest parcels are set aside and vinified under the estate's own label.

Chain of Ponds was the first major planting in the northern Adelaide Hills. Today the vines are husbanded by one of the regions most eminent growers, planted to salubrious soils and trained to Scott Henry trellis. Grapes for Amadeus are picked off two elite sites at Charleston and Kuitpo, only a small selection of fruit is chosen for inclusion. Grapes are destemmed and cold settled before vinifying in traditional open fermenters, skins and cap are hand plunged and pumped over twice daily. Ferments are completed in a combination of mostly new Fench and American oak, followed by twenty months maturation in same barrels. Amadeus is bottled with minimum filtration and may produce a slight crust.