RAISE A GLASS
“We visit the church that overlooks the Hill of Grace vineyard on Christmas Eve…”
STEPHEN AND PRUE HENSCHKE
Henschke, Eden Valley, South Australia
Husband and wife as well as chief winemaker and viticulturist, Stephen and Prue are the fifth generation of Henschkes to produce wine. They consider themselves “custodians” of their land for their children Johann and his wife Angela, Justine and Andreas, and are very focussed on sustainablilty.
Do you feel connected to the land through winemaking? Stephen: Absolutely. Great wine is made in the vineyard. Our historic sites, such as the 50-year-old Wheelwright, 100-year-old Mount Edelstone and 150-year-old Hill of Grace vineyards, have a strong personal history and story to them.
Are there any traditions that you follow every year? Prue: We visit the church that overlooks the Hill of Grace vineyard on Christmas Eve, followed by dinner with our children and grandchildren, and then presents, in keeping with Stephen’s German heritage. We shuck a lot of oysters on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to enjoy with Bollinger.
What do you eat on Christmas Day? Prue: My sister and I put together a lunch of Australian seafood, which Stephen pairs with crisp white wines, followed by duck or turkey and vegetable dishes matched with some special reds from our cellar. Lunch is usually served late so we end up having Christmas pudding covered in cherries and dessert wine for dinner!
Early in my career, I worked vintages at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy and Château Canon in Bordeaux, so I like to
