Lenswood Vineyard

In 1981 Prue and Stephen purchased a 13-hectare property at Lenswood, in the Adelaide Hills region, with the intention of eventually redeveloping it as a vineyard.

1981

Cool-climate Innovation

Covered in apple, cherry and pear trees, the property had steep slopes and stunning views towards the older vine country. On this higher, cooler site, Stephen and Prue planned to implement their learnings from Geisenheim Wine Institute and produce wines inspired by those they had tasted in Europe at that time. Their research and development here would also be used across the older Henschke vineyards in the Barossa and Eden Valleys.

1983

Devastation and Regeneration

Initially Prue maintained the property as an orchard. However, the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983 engulfed the fruit trees. Blackened tree stumps were removed and rows of pinot noir, chardonnay, riesling, merlot and cabernet sauvignon were planted over the 13ha property.

Late 1980s

Clonal Trials

Prue spent years painstakingly trialling different clones of chardonnay, riesling, pinot noir, merlot and cabernet sauvignon to find out which would perform best on the site. These clonal trials included pinot noir (there are eight: MV6, D5V12, G8V3, G8V7, Pommard and the famous Bernard clones of 115, 777 and 667, imported from the Burgundy area); chardonnay (seven clones: I10V1, I10V5, Antav 84, 277 and the Burgundian Bernard clones, B95, B96, B76); and merlot (three: D3V14, R6 and R8).

2010

Archer’s Vineyard

Stephen and Prue purchased an adjacent vineyard also planted in the early 1980s by a like-minded winemaker, thereby expanding their vineyard to 27ha. The vines they planted here were primarily chardonnay and pinot noir, as well as gewürztraminer, semillon, pinot gris and grüner veltliner.

2019

The Cudlee Creek Bushfire

In December 2019, the Cudlee Creek bushfire impacted 20 wineries across the Adelaide Hills, causing significant damage to our property, including the loss of vines, sheds, machinery and equipment. In the aftermath, our dedicated vineyard team, led by Prue Henschke and supported by community members, worked to replace damaged vines and reinstate irrigation and trellis systems. Iron-grass (Lomandra spp.) and Christmas bush (Bursaria spinosa) were among the first native species to return to the vineyard.

2025

Regeneration

Five years after the devastating bushfire, the 2025 vintage marked a significant milestone, with all seven varieties at Lenswood harvested for the first time: riesling, grüner veltliner, gewürztraminer, chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. This milestone reflects the vineyard’s regeneration and the dedication of those who helped bring it back to life.

Lenswood Vineyard Today

Through 45 years of hard work, the Lenswood wines have become known for their purity and intensity of flavour. The slower ripening conditions retain a high natural acidity that gives balance, greater mouthfeel and ability to age.

Lenswood was tested as a research and development site in 2019 after another bushfire raged through the hills, leaving blackened vines everywhere. Two weeks later however, 33mm of rain fell over the Adelaide Hills and despair turned to hope when green shoots appeared. A regeneration program was painstakingly developed, the fire damage was cleared, new posts were installed, and the young shoots were set to climb fresh trellising. The 2025 vintage marked the first time since the devastating Cudlee Creek bushfire that all varieties at Lenswood were harvested: riesling, grüner veltliner, gewürztraminer, chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot and cabernet sauvignon.

Wines from the Lenswood vineyard include Johanne Ida Selma Blanc de Noir MD, Green’s Hill Riesling, Percival’s Mill Grüner Veltliner, Lomandra Chardonnay, Croft Chardonnay, Bursaria Pinot Noir, Giles Pinot Noir and Abbotts Prayer Merlot Cabernet.

THE LOCATION

Lenswood - central Adelaide Hills. 25km east of Adelaide. 50km south-west of Henschke Cellars at Keyneton. Situated at the top high north end of the apple-growing valley, extending 1-2km north and south from Lenswood.

THE VINES

Chardonnay, riesling, grüner veltliner, pinot gris, pinot noir, merlot and cabernet sauvignon.

THE SOILS

Well-drained sandy loam over medium clay interspersed with shale fragments overlying a shale bedrock.

TECHNICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL

Trellis: Vertical Shoot Positioned, Scott Henry
Planting: 1m-1.5m x 2.5m
Treatments: Permanent sward, incorporating organic and biodynamic practices.
Rainfall: 1134mm
Altitude: 550m
Latitude: 34° 54'
Longitude: 138° 50'
Aspect: North, east, south and west
Size: 13ha (32 acres)