Winemaker: Stephen Henschke
The acclaimed Henschke family, foundation members of Australia’s First Families of Wine, were one of the pioneering families of South Australia when first-generation Johann Christian Henschke migrated from Silesia, Germany in 1841.
Each generation has contributed to the legend with fourth-generation Cyril Henschke pioneering single-variety, single-vineyard wines in the 1950s, most famously Mount Edelstone and Hill of Grace. Fifth-generation winemaker Stephen and his viticulturist wife Prue have received many accolades for their commitment to quality, innovation and integration of vineyard and winery.
The Vineyards
Mount Edelstone
Deep crimson with violet hues. Fragrant, spicy aromas of black pepper, sage, bay leaf and anise are interwoven with vibrant Satsuma plum, blackberry and blueberry, and gentle tarragon and cedar notes. The palate is complex and textured with rich and concentrated flavours of mulberry, blackberry and Satsuma plum, layered with sage, black pepper and star anise. The finish is beautifully balanced, with long, velvety tannins and excellent depth.
Eden Valley
The Henschke Eden Valley vineyard is located in the cooler part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, in the Barossa Range just east of the Barossa Valley, at an altitude of 500m and a rainfall of 700mm. The vines are planted on their own roots on a contour planting to conserve soil moisture and reduce erosion.
The semillon provides fruit for the Louis Eden Valley Semillon, named in tribute to vigneron Louis Henschke who tended the Hill of Grace vineyard for 40 years. The Eden Valley vineyard is on a range of well-drained duplex soils from sandy loam over gravel and bedrock with patches of clay to sandy loam over clay. Originally the ground was cultivated for weed control.
Hill of Grace
Hill of Grace - the name of both the vineyard and the wine that has so beguiled lovers of red wine and is surely one of the most evocative phrases in the world of 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.
Cyril Henschke created the first Hill of Grace in 1958 from shiraz vines at Hill of Grace vineyard, up to 100 years old. The exceptional quality of the wine combined with the charm of the name captured the imagination of consumers.
