Tasting Australia’s most iconic wine | The Wine Show starring Amelia Singer

I did not sleep the night before filming at the Henschke family home. Meeting Stephen Henschke, for a wine geek, is equivalent to thespians meeting Cate Blanchett. Both Australians are justifiably considered royalty in their specific fields. And yes, being introduced to Stephen, in his world famous vineyard, The Hill of Grace, was one of the most significant moments of my wine career – but not for the reasons I thought it would be.

I knew that this vineyard was over 150 years old, producing some of the most expensive wine in the world. These wines are not your stereotypical Aussie fruity, oaky, alcoholic fruit bombs; their exotic spice and concentrated flavours evoke the years of loving care this one family has given these grapes, over six generations. What I had not envisaged was how humble and genuine Stephen and all the Henschkes would be.

The tenacious Lutheran work ethic of the family’s immigrant ancestors is reflected in the winery ethos today. They view their job as earth’s caretakers, never producing more than they needed even when faced with commercial opportunities, and everyone works together as a supportive unit. That’s not to say that Stephen shies away from modernity, judging from the cutting-edge machinery and his dog’s own Twitter account. The Henschkes may make stunning wine but they do not take themselves too seriously – as the annual Kegel competition attests!