Hill of Grace

The Hill of Grace vineyard traces its origins to around 1860, when Nicolaus Stanitzki planted the first Shiraz vines on this Eden Valley site. The vineyard takes its English name from the Gnadenberg Lutheran Church located directly opposite, a church whose own name derives from a region in Silesia, Germany. Cyril Henschke released the first dedicated single-vineyard Hill of Grace wine in 1958, working with vines that were already a century old. Today, the estate is managed by sixth-generation producers Stephen and Prue Henschke.

• Vines first planted circa 1860 by Nicolaus Stanitzki
• Alternate name Gnadenberg reflects the Lutheran church and its Silesian heritage
• First single-vineyard bottling released in 1958 by Cyril Henschke
• Now in the hands of sixth-generation Stephen and Prue Henschke

Hill of Grace covers just 4 hectares (8 acres) and is divided into six distinct blocks, planted in stages between 1860 and 1965. The site sits at 400 metres (1,300 feet) elevation near Keyneton township, 4 kilometres northwest of Henschke Cellars. Soils are alluvial sandy loam over clay, grading to deep silty loam, providing excellent drainage and encouraging deep root development. All vines are dry-grown and own-rooted, meaning they survived phylloxera without grafting, a rare distinction in the wine world. The vineyard is managed according to organic and biodynamic principles.

• Six blocks planted between 1860 and 1965; some vines exceed 160 years old
• Soils: alluvial sandy loam over clay, grading to deep silty loam
• Dry-grown, own-rooted pre-phylloxera vines throughout
• Farmed using organic and biodynamic practices

Eden Valley's cool climate is a defining factor in the character of Hill of Grace Shiraz. The vineyard experiences strong diurnal temperature variation, with nights dropping to around 9°C while daytime temperatures reach the mid-to-high 20s°C. Annual rainfall is 520mm, supplemented by the vineyard's dry-farming regime, which stresses the vines and concentrates flavour in the berries. This combination of cool nights, warm days, and water stress produces grapes with both intensity and elegance.

• Cool climate with significant diurnal variation: nights near 9°C, days reaching mid-to-high 20s°C
• Annual rainfall of 520mm; no irrigation used
• Elevation of 400 metres moderates temperatures relative to the broader Barossa floor
• Stress conditions from dry farming concentrate flavour and build complexity

Hill of Grace produces a full-bodied yet elegant Shiraz defined by blackberry, plum, and spice characteristics alongside smooth tannins and exceptional aging potential. The wine is sourced exclusively from the estate's old-vine, dry-grown Shiraz and is recognised under Australia's Geographical Indication system, registered in 1997. It is consistently ranked among Australia's most expensive and collectible wines, placing it alongside Penfolds Grange as a benchmark for Australian Shiraz at the highest level.

• 100% Shiraz from dry-grown, own-rooted pre-phylloxera vines
• Registered as an Australian Geographical Indication in 1997
• Flavour profile: blackberry, plum, and spice with smooth tannins
• Recognised as one of Australia's most iconic and expensive wines