Meet the Winemakers

Producer: Henschke
Winemaker: Stephen Henschke
Region: Eden Valley, South Australia
Country: Australia

The Henschke family have been making wine at their estate in the Eden Valley since 1868. Fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Henschke took over running the winery in 1979. Together with his viticulturist wife Prue, they have taken their two single vineyards, Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone, and transformed them into two of Australia’s most sought-after wines. Through a combination of great viticulture from Prue, who is at the forefront of re-introducing native plants into their vineyards to improve biodiversity, and winemaking from Stephen, they have built upon their inheritance and turned this traditional producer into one that is recognised by savvy wine drinkers throughout the world.

Johann Henschke, the sixth-generation and eldest of Stephen and Prue’s three children graduated as a winemaker from the University of Adelaide in 2005, then gained extensive experience in his field throughout the winemaking world. His travels have taken him to Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River, Australia (2005), Felton Road in Central Otago, New Zealand (2006), Isole e Olena in Tuscany, Italy (2006), and Arietta in the Napa Valley, USA (2007). In 2012 Johann completed his Masters in Viticulture and Oenology in Geisenheim in Germany, a year of which was spent studying there, a year in Montpellier in France and six months in Madrid in Spain. Johann is now based in South Australia at the family winery, working as winemaker and viticulturist, while the fifth and sixth-generations transition is in progress, this is an important period of the transfer of knowledge, skills, and traditions.

With many of the challenges for the next generation already well-documented, Johann expects that innovation and careful strategic planning will be crucial tools for him and his peers to utilise. Above all, continuing on the traditional winemaking techniques which the Henschke family have used for generations, and ensuring that the Henschke continues to be nurtured in the same prudent way that it has always been, will allow it to be passed on to successive generations and to be held in the same high regard as it is today.

At Philglas & Swiggot we have been proudly selling Henschke wines for many years, and we are their official stockist in the UK. Please note, that some of these fine wines are stored at ideal, temperature- controlled conditions in our bonded warehouse, and might therefore take up to a week to be delivered.