2024 James Halliday Hall of Fame: Australian Wine Industry
This is the highest honour of any bestowed by Halliday Wine Companion, on an individual or an aspect of the Australian wine industry deemed to be of the highest regard and significance.
Prue Henschke
If the Hill of Grace vineyard could talk, you’d reckon that it would thank the world and perhaps even the Lord for bestowing the force-of-nature that is Prue Henschke upon it. The same applies to all of the Eden and Barossa valley vineyards under Henschke’s care, as it does to the family’s orchard-turned-vineyard at Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills.
Prue Henschke graduated from Adelaide University in 1973, having studied zoology and botany. For the past 50 years she has set about improving both the environment of her vines and the environment of her regions. The aim, at all times, has been to grow better-tasting grapes via healthier vines in an improved landscape.
Prue Henschke is someone who could easily have won Viticulturist of the Year, in any ‘competition’ around the world, every year. She could because every year she leaves her world that little bit healthier, and that little bit better. It goes without saying that intellectual rigour is a key to her renown, as is determination and hard work...Her footsteps at all times are feather-light; her impact, at all times, profound...On the basis of 50 years of proof, we cannot think of a better person to prepare the ground for those who follow.
Prue Henschke is someone who could easily have won Viticulturist of the Year, in any ‘competition’ around the world, every year. She could because every year she leaves her world that little bit healthier, and that little bit better. It goes without saying that intellectual rigour is a key to her renown, as is determination and hard work. But there’s more to Prue Henschke than the sum of these parts. It’s doubtful that Prue Henschke has ever walked past a problem without stopping first to put it to rights. Her footsteps at all times are feather-light; her impact, at all times, profound.
Prue Henschke is the inaugural inductee into the James Halliday Hall of Fame: Australian Wine Industry. On the basis of 50 years of proof, we cannot think of a better person to prepare the ground for those who follow. – Campbell Mattinson
James Halliday AM on Prue Henschke's contribution to the wine industry
Prue Henschke has been a beacon for many people within the wine industry. She has achieved such a lot, which has been not only relevant for Henschke, but for the broader industry.
Prue has shown consistently that she is the pacemaker not the pace follower. And then down to the specifics – the way the grapes are grown – it's tangible, you can walk into a vineyard that she has under her care and you will very quickly come to the conclusion that it's remarkable.
Prue has been at the forefront of the move to organic growing of grapes...She has vine by vine gone through Hill of Grace and then very importantly for the Henschke name, Mount Edelstone.
There is no one else who's done more for the broader wine industry. The development has taken place over many years and that's why it's wholly appropriate she should be the first person recognised.
2024 James Halliday Hall of Fame: Australian Wine Industry
The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion is available now. Secure your copy of Australia's most comprehensive wine guide here – and at all good bookstores.
This is an edited extract from the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by James Halliday, Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Mike Bennie, Ned Goodwin MW, Philip Rich and Shanteh Wale. Cover art by Ka Mo.
