Hill of Grace stands as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most revered single-vineyard wines — a Shiraz that rivals the world’s greatest for depth, balance, and sense of place. Produced by Henschke in the Eden Valley, it comes from vines planted in the 1860s by Nicolaus Stanitzki, a neighbour of the Henschke family, on a gentle slope opposite the tiny Gnadenberg Lutheran Church — whose name, “Hill of Grace,” would later define the wine itself.
The vineyard lies at around 400 metres above sea level, its ancient pre-Cambrian soils of sandy loam, siltstone, and clay producing tiny yields of intensely flavoured grapes. The vines, many now more than 160 years old, are dry-farmed and tended biodynamically. Each vine is a living piece of Australian viticultural history — gnarly, low-yielding, and profoundly expressive of place.
Fruit is hand-harvested, fermented in open-top concrete fermenters with gentle pump-overs, and aged for 18–20 months in a mix of French and American oak hogsheads before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Every decision, from vineyard to cellar, is made with patience and precision, reflecting the Henschke family’s philosophy of minimal intervention and absolute respect for the vineyard.
In the glass, Hill of Grace is a masterclass in restraint and harmony. Aromas of blackberry, plum, blueberry, and mulberry weave through layers of five-spice, anise, pepper, and dried herbs, framed by subtle oak and floral lift. The palate is silken yet powerful, with fine tannins and a cool-climate freshness that keeps the wine effortlessly balanced. With age, it gains haunting complexity — leather, truffle, dark chocolate, and savoury spice, all underpinned by the Eden Valley’s signature brightness.
While approachable after a decade, Hill of Grace is built for the long term — the best vintages can evolve gracefully for 30 to 50 years, revealing new nuances with every passing season. Each bottle carries the individuality of its year, yet all share the same quiet grandeur and purity of expression.
More than just a wine, Henschke Hill of Grace is a cultural landmark — a testament to continuity, family, and the extraordinary voice of one ancient vineyard. In global terms, it is Australia’s First Growth, and a reminder that true greatness begins in the soil.
