Description
The prestigious Australian winery Henschke has remained a family-owned establishment for over 153 years and six generations.
Situated in Keyneton, South Australia, within the esteemed Eden Valley wine region, Henschke proudly stands as a distinguished member of Australia’s First Families of Wine.
Since its inception in 1862, when Johann Christian Henschke planted a modest vineyard in Keyneton, the Henschke family has continuously crafted exceptional wines, forging a legacy of excellence with vineyards in the Eden Valley, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills, including acclaimed single-vineyards, Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone.
The fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Carl Henschke and his viticulturist wife Prue took over the operation of the winery in 1979 and they are recognised around the world for their exceptional quality wines, innovative spirit, focus on restoring native vegetation, organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyard.
Johann Stephen Henschke, the eldest of Stephen and Prue’s three children has become the sixth generation member of the Henschke family since 1983.
With the background of higher education in wine making, viticulture and oenology, Johann is now based at the family winery as winemaker and viticulturist while playing an important role of transferring his skill set and knowledge from the fifth to sixth generation.
As the next generation prepares to navigate the well-documented challenges that lie ahead, Johann recognizes the indispensability of innovation and meticulous strategic planning.
However, amidst these considerations, he firmly believes in upholding the time-honoured winemaking techniques that have been cherished by the Henschke family for generations.
By ensuring that the legacy of Henschke is nurtured with the same prudence and care as it has always been, Johann and his peers can pass on a heritage that will endure and command the same esteemed reputation that it enjoys today.
With over 155 years of history, Henschke’s Hill of Grace is easily Australia’s most sought after single vineyard wine, and rivals Penfolds Grange for the title of the country’s greatest ever wine.
It is a translation from the German ‘Gnadenberg’, a region in Silesia, and the name given to the lovely Lutheran church that overlooks the vineyard.
The 4ha single-vineyard shiraz planting is situated at the historic village of Parrot Hill 4km north-west of Henschke Cellars in Eden Valley established by Nicolaus Stanitzki (around 1860) and has since been handed down through the generations to the Henschke family.
Although first produced in 1958 by Cyril Henschke, it took nearly 30 years before the Hill of Grace Shiraz became truly famous, an effort recognised to be connected to the hard work and dedication of Stephen and Prue Henschke.
Today the viticulture at the Hill of Grace vineyard is blessed with the practical wisdom and knowledge passed down from past generations and the advantages of international learnings and research.
In a dry-grown vineyard on its own roots, Prue has observed the benefits of mulching, composting and the use of permanent swards including native grasses, to build up the health of soils and preserve soil moisture.
The inclusion of biodynamic principles in the vineyard management gives a twofold benefit – replacement of inorganic fertilisers with compost and the exclusion of herbicides.
While planting local native plants provides nectar to attract beneficial insects and helps with pest and disease control.
The influence of the moon cycles has always been an important and familiar feature in the operation of the Henschke vineyards, with the Hill of Grace vineyard always being picked just before the harvest moon of Easter.
A later start to picking and a mild period of ripening finished with the last grapes being picked in mid-May.
A wet 2016 winter gave us a good foundation for our predominantly dry-grown vines on their own roots, and a cool, wet and fiercely windy spring followed, with a slightly higher spring rainfall than the Barossa Valley, which delayed flowering, though conditions during set meant that yields were at average levels.
A mild summer with regular rainfall events followed, which allowed the grapes to reach full physiological maturity.
The significant rainfall events largely missed our area and therefore we harvested the majority of our grapes in healthy condition.
As always, careful hand picking in the vineyard and sorting of grapes as they were processed made sure that quality was not compromised.
Deep ruby with vibrant crimson hues.
Ethereal aromas of blackberry, raspberry compote, Satsuma plum, star anise and cocoa, entwined with crushed flowering herbs, fresh bay leaf, dried sage and rose petal.
The palate is rich, complex, powerful and mouth coating with incredible freshness and elegant, silky layers of dark blackberry, Satsuma plum and red currant, a savoury line of
