Every grape has its day, with Shiraz in the spotlight on July 24th. The perfect date for a warming winter glass in its adopted home of Australia or a summer BBQ pairing in the northern hemisphere, Shiraz’s bold, generous character, rich spicy fruit, and layers of velvety complexity make it one of the world’s most popular red wines.

Among the world’s top five most planted red wine grapes, in Australia, Shiraz is synonymous with prestigious producers that craft world-class examples of this much-loved wine. Henschke, in Eden Valley, South Australia, is renowned for its old vine Shiraz, planted more than 165 years ago by the estate’s Silesian ancestors.

With this impressive pedigree, the producer knows a thing or two about this French grape! In celebration of International Shiraz Day, Westgarth Wines spoke with the fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Henschke about what’s ahead for its Shiraz production and for top pairing tips.

First, a little history…

Henschke was founded in 1868 by Silesian immigrant Johann Christian Henschke, whose first planting was a plot of Shiraz grapes beside a small, picturesque Lutheran church, a building that still stands today. The house is acclaimed for its flagship red, Hill of Grace, which hails from this early vineyard. Its evocative name derives from the translation of ‘Gnadenberg’, the German name of the church. This red wine is amongst the most iconic single-vineyard Shiraz wines in Australia.

Its modern-day origins can be dated to 1958 when Cyril Henschke produced Hill of Grace with hand-harvested fruit and through traditional open-top fermentation vessels. Over years of meticulous viticultural and cellar practices, this Shiraz gradually achieved the legendary status it enjoys today.

Today, the winery is headed by husband-and-wife team, winemaker Stephen and botanist, environmentalist, and viticulturist Prue. Their objective is to craft terroir-driven wines with Hill of Grace, especially, reflecting historic, rich, alluvial soils and decades of careful stewardship. The original vines (named Ancestors for achieving more than 125 years in age) are at the heart of Hill of Grace wine alongside a small quantity of Centenarians, Survivors, and Old Vines, groups aged between 35 and 100 years.

Wines produced from this hallowed site feature black plum, spicy dark berry fruits, cassis, and cocoa with star anise, crushed herb, sage, and the trademark black peppercorn typical of Shiraz. Full-bodied and smooth, with silky tannins, hints of tar and cedar, Hill of Grace sees a combination of French and American oak, a portion of which is new, adding depth, layers of complexity, structure, and finesse.

Alongside its flagship Shiraz, Henschke produces a range of red and white single varietal wines and blends from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Mataro, Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris. Fruit is sourced from premium vineyards in Eden Valley, Barossa Valley, and Adelaide Hills.

Single-vineyard

One of the most exciting developments for Shiraz is the increasing focus on single-vineyard expressions and the uniqueness of individual sites. Australia is home to some of the oldest Shiraz vines in the world, including our Hill of Grace Vineyard in the Eden Valley, where the first vines were planted over 165 years ago by our Silesian ancestors. These ancient, pre-phylloxera vines remain on their own roots, offering a remarkable connection to the past and a distinctive expression of place.

Biodynamic practices

There is also a growing commitment in the Australian wine industry to organic and biodynamic practices, which are essential for the future of winemaking and reducing our environmental impact. My wife Prue, a highly regarded botanist, environmentalist, and viticulturist, has spent decades regenerating our soils and vineyards using biodynamic principles. Combined with careful vineyard management, this has led to greater intensity of colour, aroma, and flavour in our wines, as well as the maturity of tannins.

New winery technology

In the winery, we are embracing new technologies to complement our traditional winemaking techniques. The recent addition of an optical berry-sorting machine allows us to select only the best fruit with remarkable precision. It has made a noticeable difference to fruit purity, particularly in seasons like 2025, which showed more variability across the vineyard.

Henschke Shiraz food pairing tip

Our Hill of Grace Shiraz pairs exceptionally well with venison. The elegant palate, with its signature five-spice character, layered complexity, and fine, velvety tannins, complements the savory, gamey character of the meat. One of Australia’s most talented chefs, Clinton McIver of Amaru in Melbourne, has created an outstanding venison recipe ideal for pairing with Hill of Grace.

Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape with different names, which reflect country styles (bold, spicy, fruity in Australia; restrained, peppery, lean in France).

• In ancient times, the city of Shiraz in modern-day Iran was famous for wine production, but the variety’s origin is the Rhône Valley in France.
• Syrah was imported to Australia in the 1830s by European settlers and is now the country’s signature red.
• It's thought that the name ‘Shiraz’ derived from badly handwritten and misread labels when cuttings were first taken to Australia.
• Australian Shiraz, like Hill of Grace, can cellar for decades.
  

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