Henschke
Star Cellar Door
The much anticipated new Henschke Wines cellar door is up and running and it’s a beauty. Not that we really needed an excuse to visit a winery with the pedigree of Henschke but the new abode within the dry-stone walls of the old Henschke Grain Barn, built by Johann Christian Henschke in the 1860s, takes a visit to the winery up an extra couple of notches.
Henschke is one of Australia’s star wine producers. The pedigree of wines such as Hill of Grace need no introduction and the emphasis is on distinct, single-vineyard premium wines.
If you fancy sampling the wares at the pointy end of the Henschke vinous spectrum you should do the VIP Tour & Tasting. You’ll get a tour of the winery, a visit to the epic, gnarled vines of the Hill of Grace vineyard before heading to the family’s private cellar to taste the Hill of Grace, Hill of Roses, Cyril Henschke and Mount Edelstone wines. It’s a pretty special experience.
Make sure you ask the staff about the history of the family, winery and vineyards as it is one of Eden Valley’s, and indeed Australia’s, great wine stories and the pride of their past is obvious in the current lineup of wines. DAVID BROOKES
OUTSTANDING WINE: 2015 Henschke The Bootmaker Mataro, A$75