Henschke

Henschke traces its roots to Johann Christian Henschke, who arrived from Kutschlau, Silesia in 1841, initially settling in the Adelaide Hills before purchasing land in the North Rhine district, later renamed Keyneton. He planted his first vineyard around 1862, and the first recorded sale of Henschke wine took place in 1868. The family initially focused on fortified wines for local consumption. It was fourth-generation Cyril Henschke, who took over the winery in 1950, who transformed the estate by pioneering dry table wine production and, crucially, the single-vineyard concept in Australia. He first bottled Mount Edelstone as a single-vineyard wine from the 1952 vintage, then Hill of Grace from the 1958 vintage, both at a time when multi-regional blending was the norm. Stephen Henschke took over following Cyril's death in 1979, bringing techniques learned at Geisenheim alongside his viticulturist wife Prue, who has driven the estate's commitment to organic and biodynamic farming.

• Johann Christian Henschke arrived from Silesia in 1841; first commercial wine sales recorded 1868 from Riesling and Shiraz grapes at Keyneton
• Fourth-generation Cyril Henschke took over in 1950 and pioneered single-vineyard dry table wines, starting with Mount Edelstone (1952 vintage) and Hill of Grace (1958 vintage)
• Fifth-generation Stephen Henschke assumed leadership in 1979 after Cyril's death; Stephen and Prue had trained at Geisenheim, Germany before returning to the estate
• Paul Gotthard Henschke purchased the Hill of Grace vineyard from the Stanitzki family in 1891, deepening the family's connection to this historic site

Hill of Grace is Australia's most celebrated single-vineyard Shiraz, drawn from a 4-hectare planting within an 8-hectare vineyard site near the Gnadenberg Lutheran Church at Parrot Hill, 4 kilometres north-west of the Henschke winery. The oldest Grandfather vines were planted around 1860 by Nicolaus Stanitzki, a Henschke ancestor, and the wine was first produced by Cyril Henschke from the 1958 vintage. Mount Edelstone, from a 16-hectare vineyard planted in 1912, was first bottled as a single-vineyard wine from the 1952 vintage and is arguably Australia's longest consecutively produced single-vineyard wine. The Wheelwright Shiraz, whose inaugural release was the 2015 vintage, is produced from 3.7 hectares planted in 1968 by Cyril Henschke and pays tribute to Johann Christian, who arrived as a skilled stonemason and wheelwright. Hill of Roses Shiraz comes from a 1-hectare nursery block planted in 1989 by Prue Henschke using cuttings taken from the Hill of Grace Grandfather vines.

• Hill of Grace: 4 hectares of Shiraz, oldest vines planted circa 1860 on their own roots, average yield 2.5 t/ha, first vintage 1958; AUD $1,000 per bottle for the 2021 release
• Mount Edelstone: 16 hectares planted 1912 by Ronald Angas, ungrafted centenarian vines on pre-phylloxera rootstock, first bottled 1952 vintage; AUD $275 for the 2021 release
• The Wheelwright Shiraz: 3.7 hectares planted 1968, inaugural release was the 2015 vintage, named in honor of founder Johann Christian who was a skilled wheelwright
• Hill of Roses Shiraz: 1-hectare block planted 1989 from Hill of Grace Grandfather vine cuttings selected by Prue Henschke; vines still deemed too young for inclusion in Hill of Grace

Eden Valley sits at 400 to 500 metres elevation, considerably higher than the Barossa Valley floor at 200 to 300 metres. This altitude results in a later ripening pattern, typically one to two weeks behind the Barossa, preserving natural acidity and developing more distinctive varietal flavour characteristics. The Hill of Grace vineyard sits at approximately 400 metres on alluvial sandy loam over clay, while Mount Edelstone's ancient 500-million-year-old soils consist of deep sandy loam over gravelly medium-red clay overlying laminated siltstone. Prue Henschke began introducing organic practices in the 1980s, then supplemented them with biodynamic practices from 2005, including composting, permanent native swards between rows, undervine mulching, and the reintroduction of native plants to improve biodiversity. All key vineyard blocks are dry-grown on their own ungrafted rootstocks from pre-phylloxera material, with old-vine blocks yielding just 2.5 to 3 tonnes per hectare.

• Eden Valley elevation 400 to 500 metres versus Barossa Valley 200 to 300 metres; one to two weeks' later ripening preserves acidity and intensifies varietal character
• Prue Henschke introduced organic practices in the 1980s and biodynamic practices from 2005, incorporating composting, native swards, undervine mulching, and biodiversity restoration
• All single-vineyard blocks are dry-grown on their own pre-phylloxera rootstocks; Hill of Grace yield averages 2.5 t/ha, Mount Edelstone averages 3 t/ha
• Hill of Grace soils: alluvial sandy loam over clay at 400 metres; Mount Edelstone soils: deep sandy loam over gravelly red clay on ancient 500-million-year-old siltstone

Henschke Shiraz expresses cool-climate purity: dark plum, blackberry, black cherry, sage, and cracked black pepper in youth, with the five-spice signature of Hill of Grace among its most distinctive characteristics. The wines are aged in predominantly French oak hogsheads with a modest proportion of American oak and a low percentage of new wood, ensuring oak supports rather than dominates. Hill of Grace is matured in approximately 85 to 86 percent French and 14 to 15 percent American hogsheads (around 29 to 33 percent new) for 18 months before blending and bottling. Mount Edelstone follows a similar regime with the oak leaning even more heavily French. Both wines are built for extended cellaring, with critics noting 40 to 50 year potential for exceptional vintages. From the 2021 single-vineyard releases, all wines moved to Stelvin screw cap closures to ensure long-term consistency.

• Hill of Grace: aged in approximately 85% French and 15% American hogsheads (around 30% new) for 18 months; hallmark aromas of dark plum, sage, five-spice, graphite, and violets
• Mount Edelstone: signature aromas of crushed sage, black pepper, and bay leaf; deep sandy loam soils produce a broader, earlier-approachable style than Hill of Grace
• Both flagship wines built for multi-decade cellaring; critics note 40 to 50 year potential for standout vintages such as 2018 and 2021
• From the 2021 vintage, all single-vineyard wines sealed under Stelvin screw cap closures to ensure quality and consistency across extended aging

Hill of Grace is routinely described as Australia's most famous single-vineyard wine, frequently compared to Penfolds Grange as a national benchmark. The 2021 vintage, released in May 2025, received scores of 100 points from Andrew Caillard MW and Ken Gargett, with scores of 99 from multiple critics including Jeni Port, Tyson Stelzer, Huon Hooke, and Nick Ryan, and 18+/20 from Jancis Robinson, who described it as still bedazzling 24 hours after opening. Stephen Henschke called 2018 the vintage of wonder, and the 2021 is widely considered potentially the best since 2002. The 2022 vintage of the 70th release of Mount Edelstone was celebrated with a tasting of 26 vintages dating to 1956. Henschke was named Winery of the Year in the UK in both 1994 and 1995, and the estate is a foundation member of Australia's First Families of Wine.

• 2021 Hill of Grace: 100 points from Andrew Caillard MW and Ken Gargett; 99 points from Halliday Wine Companion, The Real Review, Wine Pilot, and others; 18+/20 from Jancis Robinson
• Stephen Henschke called 2018 the vintage of wonder; the 2021 is described by the Henschke family as possibly their best since 2002
• Henschke named UK Winery of the Year in 1994 and 1995; foundation member of Australia's First Families of Wine
• 2022 vintage marked the 70th consecutive release of Mount Edelstone, celebrated with a retrospective tasting of 26 vintages dating back to 1956

Under Stephen and Prue Henschke's stewardship, the 105-hectare portfolio continues to deepen its commitment to organic, biodynamic, and regenerative viticulture. Prue, who holds degrees in botany and zoology and trained at Geisenheim, has led a decades-long program of mass selection across the Grandfather vines at Hill of Grace, identifying superior plant material for future propagation. A long-term vine health program begun in 1986 evaluated more than 13,000 Shiraz vines across both Mount Edelstone and Hill of Grace, ultimately identifying four Hill of Grace and 17 Mount Edelstone selections planted in a specific propagation vineyard in 2017. The winery also uses solar power with batteries, relies on rainwater, and sources locally made Stelvin closures and bottles to minimize environmental impact. The sixth generation of the Henschke family is now being introduced to the business.

• Prue Henschke's vine health program, begun in 1986, evaluated over 13,000 Shiraz vines; final selections planted in a propagation vineyard in 2017 for future vine replacement
• Winery uses solar power with battery storage and rainwater collection; shifted to locally sourced Stelvin screw caps and bottles from the 2021 vintage to reduce transport footprint
• Prue began organic practices in the 1980s and biodynamic practices from 2005, incorporating native grasses, composting winery waste, and reintroduction of native flowering plants to attract predatory insects
• Sixth generation of the Henschke family is being introduced to the business, continuing over 150 years of unbroken family ownership and stewardship of pre-phylloxera vineyard material