A one-day taste of the best of the Eden Valley

Looking for a special wine and food occasion? 

How about the Vino Camino 2026 - a collaboration between between two high-profile families in the Eden Valley on Sunday, May 17. 

Part of Tasting Australia, and billed as "a journey through the Barossa", the one-day gourmet experience offers the chance to spend time in the company of two of the Barossa’s founding families, Henschke and Angas, while exploring the picturesque Eden Valley.

Covering 5 kilometres, guests will be guided past historic vineyards and across ancient soils that produce some of Australia’s most renowned wines, including Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone.



Acclaimed local chefs Sam Smith and Sandor Palmai of Barossa standout Otherness will prepare seasonal dishes along the way, paired with Henschke and Hutton Vale Farm wines. 

The journey culminates in a generous Barossa-style lunch at the Angas family's historic Hutton Vale Farm.

Wine tastings and wine stories will be the order of the day as you visit landmarks including the  

Henschke cellar door in Keyneton and the Gnadenberg Church alongside the Hill of Grace vineyard.

The star tasting awaits at the peak of Mt Edelstone with a shiraz trio of Hill of Grace, Hutton Vale Farm and Mount Edelstone - along with 360-degree views of northern Eden Valley.

Lunch will be held in Hutton Vale Farm’s courtyard - with the family's famous lamb likely to feature. 

The event is for 18+ only and vegetarian, Vegan, coeliac and other dietary requirements can be catered for on request. The cost is $475 per person. 

See https://tastingaustralia.com.au/products/events/2026/vino-camino-2026

Global recognition for Henschke family

Henschke Wines has been named a Gold Member by International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) for its sustainability actions.

Henschke's efforts in ensuring that winemaking operations are powered by, at least, 20% of renewable energy on site and demonstrating a consistent reduction of emissions per litre of wine means that they are among the first in the Australian wine sector to gain the highest standards in carbon emission reduction.

“We’re thrilled to receive this recognition for our family and team’s efforts," said fifth-generation winemaker and owner Stephen Henschke.

"[My wife] Prue and I recognised that the changing weather patterns experienced through the 1990s were a threat to our ability to continually improve wine quality.

"With our focus on crafting captivating single-vineyard wines from pre-phylloxera vines, we knew we needed to care greatly for these old vines, and the land they grow in.

"Preserving precious natural resources, water and soil fertility, has been Prue’s unwavering focus for the past four decades. It has led to extensive work to improve biodiversity and soil health, as well as to gain certification for these sustainable practices.”

Prue Henschke, chief viticulturist and co-owner of the Eden Valley producer, said: “With the sixth generation joining us in the business, we’ve embraced the opportunity to be among the pacemakers in the community.

"This has strengthened our commitment to adopting less-polluting forms of energy with our solar microgrid and to putting downward pressure on our emissions footprint.

"Completing our GHG inventory with IWCA has been another important step in committing our team and business to the long-term goal of consistently reducing our environmental impact.

"As caretakers of some of the oldest vines in the world, we want to tread as lightly as possible on our land; land that has been nurtured by six generations of Henschke and is our past, our present our future.”

Henschke delivers a superb new range of premium wines

Unleash the superlatives. Henschke's new premium wines are released this week. And they are stunning.

The 2018 Hill of Grace Shiraz will be launched globally on Wednesday (I gave it a rare 99 points) as part of the Henschke family's 2018 Single Vineyard Release, which will also include 2018 Hill of Roses Shiraz, 2018 Mount Edelstone Shiraz, 2018 The Wheelwright Shiraz and 2018 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon.

These single vineyard wines are recognised globally, and I was lucky enough to sample them at a recent tasting - and to also later pair them with food.

If it was any other family, the claim that the 2018 vintage was "graced by wonder" would sound suspiciously like marketing hype.

But when Stephen Henschke makes the claim then you know he is seriously delighted by the new wines, all of which will be in short supply.

Fifth-generation winemaker Henschke says the vintage celebrates several significant milestones.

"The 2018 Hill of Grace marks 60 years since my father Cyril captured the first shimmering edition of Hill of Grace from the 1958 vintage," he says.



"In 2018, we also celebrated 150 years of Henschke family winemaking. Nature collaborated, too, delivering an exceptional season that will be considered a standout of this decade.

"The wines from 2018 have wonderful complexity, richness, depth and balance, an expressive sense of place, and fine and mature tannins. They are comparable to exceptional quality vintages such as 1982, 1990, 2002 and 2010, all from mild seasons that have shown excellent ageing potential in ideal cellaring conditions.”

Established in 1868, Henschke has vineyards in the Eden Valley, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. The family business is completed by Stephen's viticulturist wife Prue, and their children Johann, Justine and Andreas - who are all carrying on the family winemaking tradition.

Innovator Cyril Henschke enjoyed success with his first Mount Edelstone Shiraz and then turned his attention to the small planting of shiraz located opposite the Gnadenberg Lutheran Church, which was farmed by his brother Louis.

From these ancient vines he produced the first Hill of Grace Shiraz, a wine that would become recognised around the world.

Centenarian and ancestor vines provide the key components in Hill of Grace, with the oldest vines now over 160 years old. These are gnarly, dry-grown and naturally low yielding, which means there can never be enough Hill of Grace to meet global demand - and why the price now sits just below $1000 a bottle.

Stephen and Prue (above) have subsequently added three single-vineyard, single-varietal wines to their range: Cyril Henschke, Hill of Roses and The Wheelwright - and the Henschke wines are made organically and biodynamically.

“We see the nourishing of our land as a way of connecting healthy soils, healthy produce and healthy people," says Prue Henschke.

"We want to tread as lightly as possible on our land; land that has been nurtured by six generations of Henschke and is our past, our present and our future.”

Here's the rundown on the new wines, which will be available through fine wine retailers, restaurants and the Henschke cellar door and website (henschke.com.au) from Wednesday.

Henschke 2018 Hill of Grace Eden Valley Shiraz: One of the finest Hill of Graces that I have tasted. No wine is perfect so this one gets 99/100. It combines power and elegance with a kaleidoscope of flavours. Composed, thoughtful and thoroughly delicious. $950.

Henschke 2018 Hill of Roses Eden Valley Shiraz: The 15th release of a wine produced from the "younger" vines on the Hill of Grace vineyard, planted in 1989. The fruit has distinct pepper and spice characters and is long, if a little restrained in its youth. 96 points from me. $455.

Henschke Mount Edelstone 2018 Eden Valley Shiraz: First produced almost 70 years ago and arguably the longest consecutively produced, single-vineyard wine in Australia. This is deep and brooding with herb and spice notes and serious texture from quality oak treatment. Supple and savoury and a wine well worth the $245 asking price. 97 points.

Henschke 2018 The Wheelwright Eden Valley Shiraz: Just the fourth release of this wine, the "bargain" shiraz of the release. Marking the winery’s centenary in 1968, Cyril Henschke planted a small shiraz vineyard in the cooler part of the Mount Lofty Ranges. Now this vineyard produces wines of style, sophistication and approachability on release. It has length, minerality, and nervy tension. Elegant and food friendly. 96 points. $150.

Henschke Cyril Henschke 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon: The 40th anniversary release of one of Australia's finest cabernets (with a smidgen of merlot and cabernet franc); dark, complex, textural and intense but at the same time soft and smooth. The supple tannin structure makes this immediately approachable, while being destined for the long haul if required. Loved this and gave it 98 points. $175.

Changing of the guard at Henschke

There has been a changing of the guard at Australian wine industry powerhouse Henschke, with Gwyneth Olsen taking over as senior winemaker at the family-owned Eden Valley producer.

The feisty Olsen will make the move from Pepper Tree Wines in the Hunter Valley to join Henschke, famous for its world-class single-vineyard Hill of Grace shiraz.

Olsen has over 15 years’ winemaking experience from various regions and estates around the world, having done stints with Villa Maria Estate in New Zealand, Chateau La Tour Figeac (Bordeaux), McWilliam’s Wines (Hunter Valley), Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine (Burgundy), Oakridge Wines (Yarra Valley), Briar Ridge (Hunter Valley) and most recently being head winemaker at Pepper Tree.

"Gwyn has robust knowledge of winemaking and winery operations from a variety of regions across South Australia and New South Wales," Henschke said in an Instagram post.

Olsen's accolades and achievements include being Gourmet Traveller WINE Young Winemaker of the Year 2014, Australian Wine Research Institute Advanced Wine Assessment Course DUX 2014, Len Evans Tutorial Scholar 2016 and Wine Australia Future Leaders 2017. She is also a judge at regional and national wine shows.

She will join a winemaking and viticultural team headed by chief winemaker Stephen Henschke, winemaker Andy Cummins and assistant winemaker Fraser Armstrong, along with chief viticulturist Prue Henschke and viticultural technical officer Adam Pietsch.

Olsen replaces former senior winemaker Paul Hampton, who has stepped away to spend more time on his farm and with his family.

"Words simply cannot describe Paul’s unconditional commitment and dedication to Henschke over the past 17 vintages," the family said in a statement.

"Paul’s creativity, attention to detail and ability to refine has been instrumental to the success of Henschke, sharing some incredible achievements and accolades over the years."

Image: Pepper Tree Wines/Chris Elfes

Young or old: the eternal riesling conundrum

Riesling - one of the world's great grape varieties. Versatile and usually affordable. 

From Alsace to Australia, however, there is one great conundrum for wine lovers: when to drink their rieslings? 

Young rieslings, particularly from Australia, are usually dry and high in acid. 

Give them a couple of years and they retain their citrus fruit flavours but soften. A few more years in bottle and they develop honeyed, toasty or kerosene characters. 

This is also true of the delicate, less ripe rieslings from Germany and Austria, and slightly sweeter styles from New Zealand. 

In the first 12 months of their lives, Aussie rieslings offer lashings of lime, lemon and grapefruit flavours and searing acidity. 

A decade or so on they are completely different beasts; mature and mellow. 

To explore the many facets of riesling, Henschke, Howard Park and Taylors Wines hosted a recent Museum & Current Release tasting. 

The wines involved were the Henschke 2007 and 2021 Julius Riesling from Eden Valley; the Taylors 2012 and 2019 St Andrews Riesling from the Clare Valley and Howard Park 2010 Museum Release and 2020 Mount Barker Riesling from Western Australia. 

The wines were offered in tiny tasting-sized bottles by Trust In Taste (above), so were not able to be tasted with food afterwards, or sampled a day later. 

We were joined by Justine Henschke, Mitchell Taylor and Richard Burch from Howard Park; all of whom are passionate about quality rieslings. 

All three producers use screw caps to ensure their wines maintain integrity. 

"One of the intriguing thing about these wines is that they retain their freshness under screw caps," says Henschke. "There is a richness, oiliness and opulence to our 2007, while in maintains fruit character.

"We  believe aged riesling is a style with celebrating and we have found we can't release enough to keep our customers happy." 

Mitchell Taylor noted the "secondary aromatics, toast and honey" in the 2012 St Andrews and said: "We are holding back greater volumes of older wines to meet a growing demand from collectors."

Likewise, Burch says older Howard Park rieslings are "a revelation", still concentrated and hitting their stride at 10-15 years of age. 

Call me a philistine, but while there is a definite place for older rieslings - particularly with food - I just love the exuberance and vitality of younger rieslings, perhaps at 1-2 years of age. 

The 2021 Julius is dry, aromatic, floral and wonderfully pure; the St Andrews has a delicious line of limey acid in its adolescence and the Howard Park 2020 definete regional minerality and textural appeal. 

And the winners are...wine consumers offered the choice between such contrasting styles.    

 

  

Henschke hits high points with new-release shirazes

It is one of the most eagerly awaited dates on the Australian wine calendar: the launch of the new vintage of Australia's highest-profile single vineyard wine; the Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz. 

May 4 is the date for the global unveiling of four super Henschke single-vineyard shiraz wines from the Eden Valley: a stellar Hill of Grace, Hill of Roses, Mount Edelstone and The Wheelwright. 

I was among the fortunate folk to get a sneak peek; and the wines certainly live up to expectations with a 98-point rating for the Hill of Grace and admiration for the value offered by the the Wheelwright. 

This sixth-generation winemaking family never fails to deliver.

The shiraz collection follows the vision of fourth-generation winemaker Cyril Henschke, one of Australia’s pioneers of dry table wines in the 1950s, who produced his first single-vineyard wine Mount Edelstone in 1952 from 16 hectares of shiraz planted in 1912 by Ronald Angas. 

This is the 65th release of Mount Edelstone Shiraz (96 points) and arguably Australia’s longest consecutively produced single-site wine. The 2017 shows off glorious fruit, eucalypt and herbs and great balance.

Around the same time on neighbouring land, the local German Silesian community were building the Gnadenberg Lutheran Church with a spire that overlooked a vineyard. 

Cyril Henschke paid tribute to the church with the wine name ‘Hill of Grace’; a translation of Gnadenberg. 

When he made his first Hill of Grace in 1958, the oldest vines, the ‘Grandfathers’, were thought to be 100 years of age. Now at just over 160 years of age, they are among some of the oldest vines in the world.

This is the 56th release of Henschke Hill of Grace, a wine that is always made from just four hectares of vines. There was no Hill of Grace made in 1960, 1974 and 2000. Just one barrel was produced in 2003; no vintage in 2011, and extremely tiny vintages for 2013, 2014, 2019 and 2020.

The 2017 vintage is graced by vitality,” says Stephen Henschke, the fifth-generation winemaker. “The common thread through all four Eden Valley releases shows a liveliness and capacity for long life that has developed as the result of an exceptionally long and gentle vintage. 

"This vintage will be recognised for wines of incredible depth, purity and energy, much akin to high-quality vintages  such as 1992, 2006 and 2012, all of which were late, cool seasons and have shown excellent ageing potential in ideal cellaring conditions.”

My notes: "Subtle, smooth and seductive; dangerously, defiantly drinkable in its youth when you know it deserves to be cellared." 

The prices make this quartet "special occasion" wines: Hill of Grace $900, Hill of Roses $430, Mount Edelstone $230 and The Wheelwright $140, although all would make magnificent Mother's Day gifts. 

The Wheelwright (95 points), thrilled me.  Made from vines approaching 50 years of age, the 2015 vintage of The Wheelwright was released in 2018 to commemorate 150 years of family winemaking. 

The 2017 vintage is the third release of this wine - and well worth seeking out if you get the chance as it combines power and elegance in equal measure.

“Our unique Eden Valley sites mean so much more to me than the beauty of the vines and the wines they produce," says Stephen Henschke. "Each step we take is in the footsteps of our ancestors. Our story is the perseverance and courage of the generations past and the generations yet to come.” 

The Hill of Roses Shiraz (95 points) is an impressive understudy to the Hill of Grace, It takes its name from the Rosenzweig family who once ran the historic Parrot Hill Post Office that lies opposite the vineyard.

Some good news. You don't have to spend up big to enjoy a Henschke. There are also wines in the range that retail for under $35.  

See www.henschke.com.au/

Leading winemaking family changes channels

This is a huge story for anyone involved in the wine industry but of minor interest to wine lovers, so drinkers can look away now.

Eden Valley-based Henschke, among Australia's leading family wine producers and with 150 years of history, will be distributed by Mezzanine The Fine Wine Specialist from 2022.

Henschke was for many years distributed by Tucker Seabrook/Fine Wine Partners and then by House of Fine Wine, a collaboration between Société Jacques Bollinger of France; Henschke and Villa Maria of New Zealand that was established in 2017.

“We are delighted and honoured to welcome Henschke into the Mezzanine The Fine Wine Specialist portfolio," said Gary Crawford, CEO of Joval Wines.

“Henschke will become one of our cornerstone brands in the Mezzanine The Fine Wine Specialist portfolio alongside some of the world’s greatest family-owned wine brands.

“As custodians of some the country’s oldest vines, producers of nation-defining wines and innovators for a sustainable future, we admire the Henschke family as people of both principle and action.

"We are looking forward to working closely with Stephen and Prue, the next generation and the wider Henschke team for many years to come."

In recent years, Stephen (fifth-generation winemaker) and Prue (viticulturist) Henschke have welcomed their adult children, Johann, Justine and Andreas into the family business.

“As we embark on a new chapter, we would like to thank House of Fine Wine for their dedication and contribution while representing Henschke in our home market,” said Stephen Henschke.

“We are pleased to form a new distribution partnership with one of Australia’s most reputable and dynamic fine wine businesses, Mezzanine The Fine Wine Specialist, part of Joval Wines. Their enduring values and commitment to the premium wine trade align with our family business, and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship, servicing our loyal customers throughout Australia.”

Mezzanine represents brands from around the world, including Champagne Taittinger, Cullen, Craggy Range, Nanny Goat Vineyard, Tar & Roses, Yangarra, Burlotto and AIX Rose.

Two Australian wineries recognised by Robert Parker

Australian wineries Cullen (above) and Henschke have been recognised for their green credentials by leading US wine critic Robert Parker. 

Margaret River-based Cullen and Eden Valley-based Henschke were recognised among only 24 wineries worldwide in the inaugural Robert Parker Green Emblem selection, acknowledging environmentally friendly practices.

"With more and more wine consumers actively seeking out wines that are sustainably produced, the team at Robert Parker Wine Advocate have added a ''Green Emblem'' to their communications and website to recognise wine producers that are leaders in sustainability," Parker said.

"These wineries are given this emblem in recognition for their extraordinary and sustainable efforts within the wine industry, and acknowledges that there is a person of outstanding sustainability achievements at this establishment’s core, and is only given out very rarely, after careful consideration of first-hand reviewer knowledge."

Both wineries are family owned and operated and use biodynamic principles and Cullen is carbon neutral. 

"Our Green Emblem is given in recognition of the most extraordinary cases of sustainable efforts in our wine industry," Parker said. "The distinction is awarded to producers/wineries that have achieved outstanding levels of sustainability. It is very rarely given out, and only after careful consideration of first-hand reviewer knowledge.

"Once a winery is awarded this distinction, all of their wines will carry the Robert Parker Green Emblem symbol going forward." 

Other wineries recognised include Domaine Leroy in Burgundy, Pontet-Canet in Bordeaux, the Sadie family in South Africa and Alois Lageder in the Alto Adige in Italy.

New-release Australian benchmark red wine shines

Arguably Australia's most collectible wine, the 2016 vintage of Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz is released today - and it will delight lovers of bigger red wine styles.

Henschke Hill of Grace is a single-vineyard wine grown in a shallow alluvial valley just north-west of the Henschke winery in South Australia's Eden Valley.

The name comes from the beautiful Gnadenberg Lutheran Church overlooking the ancient vineyard, where a congregation gathers weekly; Gnadenberg translating from German to ‘Hill of Grace’.

The oldest vines, known as the ‘Grandfathers’, were planted circa 1860 by Nicolaus Stanitzki from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe, and are estimated to be just over 160 years of age.

As Henschke winemaker for four decades, Stephen Henschke now walks these ancient vines with his wife Prue, one of Australia’s most talented and dedicated botanically trained viticulturists.

The vines are managed with organic and biodynamic practices and grow within the native landscape; an ecosystem of local grasses and flowering plants.

“My philosophy is a holistic one; to ensure that the created environment sits in a healthy balance with the natural environment,” says Prue.

This is the 59th vintage (55th release) of Henschke Hill of Grace. Every vintage from the single vineyard is a limited release, however some are more limited than others.

There was no Hill of Grace made in 1960, 1974 and 2000. Just one barrel was produced in 2003; no vintage in 2011 and extremely tiny vintages for 2013, 2014, 2019 and 2020.

“The 2016 vintage will be recognised for deeply coloured, plush, dark-fruited wines, which are concentrated, complex, vibrant and energetic, with beautifully layered mature tannins; overall characterised by average yields of small berries and exceptionally high quality,” says Stephen.

“They are very much akin to high-quality vintages such as 1988, 1994 and 2008, all of which have shown exceptional ageing potential in ideal cellaring conditions.”

The new Hill of Grace is a big, rich, deep, serious wine that I am sure will cellar well - but I showed it to eight people and they all loved its plushness.

The Henschke family have also released the Mount Edelstone Shiraz 2016 alongside Hill of Grace.

Mount Edelstone was first produced in 1952 by fourth-generation winemaker Cyril Henschke, one of Australia’s leading pioneers of dry table wines, from 16 hectares of shiraz planted in 1912 by Ronald Angas, descendant of English landowner George Fife Angas. This is the 64th release.

A sibling wine to Hill of Grace; Hill of Roses Shiraz 2016, a young-vine wine produced from a mass selection of the best performing shiraz vines on the Hill of Grace vineyard, has also been released. It is a bit of a blockbuster.

Henschke Hill of Grace 2016, Mount Edelstone 2016 and Hill of Roses 2016 are available now through fine wine retailers, restaurants and the Henschke website and cellar door.

Henschke Hill of Grace Eden Valley Shiraz 2016 RRP $890.00

Henschke Hill of Roses Eden Valley Shiraz 2016 RRP $415.00

Henschke Mount Edelstone Eden Valley Shiraz 2016 RRP $225.00

Henschke, one of Australia’s oldest family-owned wineries, has been making wine for over 150 years.

Established in 1868, Henschke is resolute in its desire for complete integration of vineyard and winery, through six generations of family grape growing and winemaking tradition in the Eden Valley and Barossa Valley.

For more information, visit the Henschke website at henschke.com.au

Global recognition for Henschke family

Eden Valley/Adelaide Hills family wine producer Henschke has been named the No.4 Most Admired Wine Brand in the world. 

The honour was bestowed by Drinks International with Henschke the top-ranked Australian winery on the list.

The winners were revealed over the Easter long weekend and voted on by wine industry professionals including buyers, sommeliers, wholesalers, bar owners, Masters of Wine, writers and educators from 48 different countries. 

Drinks International editor Martin Green said: “The Most Admired Wine Brands 2021 highlights the most iconic, exciting and innovative producers in the world.

“To win a place on this prestigious list is a tremendous achievement. There are thousands of wine brands vying for attention around the world, but just 50 elite icons have made the cut.

 

“Congratulations to all of the brands featured this year. They have earned the respect of hundreds of wine professionals and experts spread across the globe, and they have now gained the ultimate stamp of quality.”

 

This is the 11^th year in which Drinks International has compiled its definitive guide to the World’s Most Admired Wine Brands.

 

Stephen Henschke, owner and chief winemaker, said: “We are thrilled that our 150-year-old, sixth-generation family-owned winery has been voted in at No.4 of the Top 50 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands for 2021, up 14 places from last year, and our second inclusion in this prestigious list.

 

“We are grateful to receive this accolade from the Drinks International voting academy. This is an achievement that can be shared by our hard-working team and representatives across the world.

 

“Our philosophy has always been to be ‘better’ rather than ‘bigger’. My father Cyril, fourth-generation Henschke winemaker, was a pioneer of single-varietal and single-vineyard table wines in Australia, with his greatest legacy being the creation of Mount Edelstone and Hill of Grace in the 1950s; shiraz wines from the Eden Valley that have become an integral part of our country's fine wine story.”

Familia Torres from Spain topped the list ahead of  Catena from Argentina and Vega Sicilia from Spain. Penfolds was sixth with Felton Road from New Zealand 14th, Villa Maria 15th and Yalumba 16th.

Henschke finished ahead of brands including Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Antinori and Guigal. 

Fifth-generation Stephen Henschke and his viticulturist wife Prue are assisted by their winemaker son Johann, and daughter Justine in marketing, representing the sixth generation. 

The 2016 vintage of the Henschke family’s most prestigious single-vineyard shiraz wines from the Eden Valley; Hill of Grace, Hill of Roses and Mount Edelstone will be released on May 5. 

Henschke, one of Australia’s oldest family owned wineries, celebrated 150 years of winemaking in 2018. See www.henschke.com.au