Henschke Hill of Grace: The Eden Valley's Greatest Wine
This guide is part of our ultimate guide to Eden Valley wine tours.
Henschke Hill of Grace is one of the most historically significant wines made in Australia. A single-vineyard Shiraz from a site on the Eden Valley plateau containing vines planted in the 1860s, it is made in tiny quantities by one of Australia's most respected winemaking families and sold on allocation at prices that reflect its status as a genuine Australian first-growth. If you want to understand what the Eden Valley is capable of at the highest level, Hill of Grace is the wine.
The History of Hill of Grace
The Hill of Grace site takes its name from a 19th-century Lutheran church — Gnadenberg (Grace Hill in German) — built by Silesian immigrants who settled the Eden Valley in the 1840s and 1850s. The first vines on the property were planted in the 1860s, and they have been producing fruit continuously — surviving the phylloxera louse that devastated most of the world's great vineyards in the late 19th century by virtue of Australia's quarantine.
The Henschke family began producing a separate Hill of Grace wine in 1958, when Cyril Henschke recognised that the old-vine fruit from this specific site was producing something qualitatively different from the rest of the estate's production. It was one of the first single-vineyard Shiraz wines made in Australia — a concept that is now central to Australian fine wine culture but was genuinely novel in the late 1950s.
Today, Hill of Grace is produced by Stephen and Prue Henschke and overseen by Prue's viticultural work, which has been recognised internationally. The vines on the original block are among the oldest continuously producing Shiraz vines in the world.
The Wine Itself
Hill of Grace Shiraz from the Eden Valley is a different beast from Barossa floor Shiraz. The cooler, higher-elevation site produces:
- More aromatic wines — violets, pepper, spice alongside dark cherry and plum
- Medium-to-full body rather than the massive, blockbuster weight of warm-climate Shiraz
- Firmer natural acidity that gives structure and makes the wine age exceptionally well
- A complexity that deepens significantly over 15 to 30 years in the cellar
In youth, Hill of Grace can appear almost austere compared to the more generous Barossa Shiraz style. With age, it develops layers of savoury, earthy complexity — dried herbs, leather, aged meat, and a persistent mineral quality from the old volcanic soils — that place it among the most complex red wines produced anywhere.
Recent vintages have received scores in the 98 to 100 point range from major critics. The 2026 Halliday Wine Companion consistently rates Henschke among Australia's top wine producers.
The Other Great Henschke Wines
Hill of Grace commands the most attention, but Henschke's range extends well beyond it:
Mount Edelstone: Another single-vineyard Shiraz from old Eden Valley vines, planted in 1912. In some vintages, Mount Edelstone approaches the quality of Hill of Grace at a fraction of the price. It is a more available entry point into Henschke's serious Shiraz range.
Julius Riesling: The estate's Eden Valley Riesling, named for Julius Henschke. One of the best-value premium Rieslings in Australia — steely, acid-driven, and built to age for 10 to 15 years.
Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon: Named for Cyril Henschke who developed the estate's reputation for single-vineyard wines. A serious, structured Cabernet from Eden Valley fruit.
Keyneton Estate Euphonium: The estate's GSM-Cab blend — more accessible than the flagship single-vineyard wines and an excellent everyday-drinking red from a producer at the very top of the Australian hierarchy.
Visiting the Henschke Cellar Door
The Henschke cellar door is at Keyneton, on the edge of the Eden Valley. It is not a large commercial visitor centre — it is a working family winery that welcomes visitors by appointment for tastings of the current range.
Tastings at Henschke focus on the broader range — Julius Riesling, Keyneton Estate, Cyril Henschke Cabernet — with limited access to Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone depending on allocation and availability. This is one of the most serious and authentically wine-focused cellar door experiences in South Australia.
Booking: Advance booking is essential. The Henschke official website has current cellar door hours and booking arrangements.
Buying Hill of Grace: The wine is sold on allocation. Cellar door visitors sometimes have access to allocation quantities not available at retail. Ask specifically when booking your tasting visit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Henschke Hill of Grace? Hill of Grace is a single-vineyard Shiraz from a site on the Eden Valley plateau containing pre-phylloxera vines planted in the 1860s. Produced by the Henschke family since 1958, it is one of Australia's most historically significant and critically acclaimed red wines.
Is Hill of Grace the best Australian wine? It is consistently ranked among the top Australian red wines alongside Penfolds Grange. Both occupy similar positions in the Australian wine hierarchy — iconic single-vineyard or single-estate wines that have built their reputations over decades. Which is "best" depends on style preference: Grange is from warm-climate Barossa-led fruit; Hill of Grace is from cool-climate Eden Valley single-vineyard Shiraz.
How much does Hill of Grace cost? Hill of Grace is sold on allocation and at auction. Recent vintage prices at retail (where available) run from approximately $900 to over $1,200 per bottle depending on vintage and availability. Older vintages at auction can command multiples of these prices.
Can I taste Hill of Grace at the cellar door? Occasionally, in small quantities, at the Henschke cellar door in Keyneton. This is not guaranteed and availability depends on allocation. Visiting the cellar door for a serious tasting of the broader range — particularly Mount Edelstone and Julius Riesling — is more reliably available and deeply worthwhile.
Is Henschke in the Barossa or Eden Valley? Henschke is an Eden Valley producer. The family winery and cellar door are at Keyneton, within the Eden Valley region. The Hill of Grace vineyard is on the Eden Valley plateau.