Stephen Henschke

Stephen is the fifth-generation Henschke winemaker, taking over the role from his father Cyril Henschke in 1979.

After completing a science degree at Adelaide University, Stephen gained winemaking experience in the Hunter Valley, before spending two years in Germany studying and working with his wife Prue.

On his return to Australia, Stephen worked closely with his father Cyril at the family’s winery in Keyneton. At this time, he began to introduce winemaking techniques acquired in Germany to improve wine quality and complement the traditional winemaking techniques of his ancestors.

In the early 1980s, Stephen and Prue purchased an apple orchard at Lenswood for research and development purposes, to positively influence the quality of fruit from the older Henschke vineyards in the Eden Valley and Barossa Valley.

In 1988 and 1989 Prue and Stephen worked vintages in Burgundy and Bordeaux. With widened perspectives, they forged their own styles with much of the success of Henschke’s wines attributed to the vine age and fruit quality in the vineyards.

Stephen and Prue, with their three children Johann, Justine and Andreas, continue the family winemaking tradition of producing exceptional wines from outstanding vineyards in the Eden Valley, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills.