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Stephen Henschke wins Winemakers’ Winemaker Award 2025
Stephen Henschke has been named as the 2025 recipient of the Winemakers’ Winemaker award at a ceremony during ProWein yesterday (March 17).
Given annually by the Institute of Masters of Wine and the drinks business since 2011, the award recognises outstanding achievement in the field of winemaking and is chosen by a panel of winemaking peers that comprise all Masters of Wine who are winemakers, and the award’s past winners.
Stephen Henschke is the fifth-generation winemaker at Henschke, one of Australia’s most celebrated wineries. Taking over in 1979 from his father, Cyril Henschke, Stephen introduced innovative winemaking techniques while preserving the traditions of his ancestors.
After earning a science degree at Adelaide University, he gained experience in the Hunter Valley and Germany, working alongside his wife, Prue. In the early 1980s, they established Henschke’s Lenswood vineyard to enhance fruit quality across the Eden Valley, Barossa Valley, and Adelaide Hills.
Stephen has received multiple accolades, including Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Winemaker of the Year (2006) and International Wine Challenge’s Joint Red Winemaker of the Year (1994/95). In 2011, Henschke was inducted into the Family Business Australia (SA) Hall of Fame. Today, he and Prue, with their three children, continue Henschke’s legacy of producing exceptional wines from historic vineyards.
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On receiving the award, Stephen remarked: “I am delighted and honoured to be recognised by the Institute of Masters of Wine, and included in the company of outstanding winemaker winners, such as last year’s winner Michael Brajkovich MW.”
Patrick Schmitt MW, editor-in-chief of the drinks business, said “It’s a great pleasure to shine a spotlight on a winemaker as knowledgeable, humble, and talented as Stephen. With the support of his viticulturist wife, Prue, Stephen has spent decades perfecting wines from some of the world’s most important and historic vineyards — making him a richly deserving recipient of this prestigious award.”
Rod Smith MW, IMW chair, added: “It is an honour to present this award to Stephen Henschke, a true custodian of Australia’s fine wine heritage and a pioneer in shaping its future. Together with the viticultural expertise of his wife, Prue, Stephen has built a remarkable legacy.”
Stephen was unable to accept the award in person due to working an early harvest and was represented by his son, sixth generation winemaker and viticulturalist Johann Henschke.
Stephen now joins the impressive list of previous winners: Michael Brajkovich MW (2024), Jean-Louis Chave (2022), Peter Sisseck (2011), Peter Gago (2012), Paul Draper (2013), Anne-Claude Leflaive (2014), Egon Müller (2015), Alvaro Palacios (2016), Eben Sadie (2017), Jean-Claude Berrouet (2018) and Angelo Gaja (2019).
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