2026 Henschke Julius Riesling 750ml

Overview

Henschke Julius is a premium Eden Valley Riesling with a long-established reputation for ageing. Fourth-generation winemaker Cyril Henschke began building Henschke's reputation for Eden Valley Riesling in 1961, and since 1992 the wine has carried the Julius name in tribute to ancestor Albert Julius Henschke (1888–1955), an acclaimed craftsman, artist and sculptor.

Vintage

The lead-up to the 2026 season was shaped by below-average rainfall and a warm spring, followed by significant late-spring rainfall and a severe frost event in November. A mild, dry start to summer included two weeks of 40°C heatwaves in January, while careful vineyard management protected the fruit. Two significant rain events before harvest were followed by mild conditions and a long, slow ripening period, supporting flavour development, fruit concentration and balanced acidity. The vintage delivered moderate yields of excellent quality and varietal expression.

Vineyard

The wine is made from 100% Riesling grown on the Henschke Eden Valley Vineyard, managed with organic and biodynamic practices, together with fruit from selected high-quality vineyards in the Eden Valley wine region. The Henschke Eden Valley Riesling vineyard is planted on sandy loam over gravel and bedrock with patches of clay.

Winemaking

Fermented in tank and bottled post-vintage to preserve the delicate aromatic fruit characters.

Producer Tasting Notes

Henschke: “Pale gold with green hues. Intensely perfumed aromas of orange blossom, jasmine and frangipani are entwined with lime zest, lemon, finger lime, pink grapefruit and nectarine. The palate shows a bright core of fresh citrus, layered with white peach and Granny Smith apple, driven by fine mineral acidity leading to a balanced finish of exceptional length.”

Reviewed July 2026

Specifications

• Vintage: 2026
• Producer: Henschke
• Grape Variety: 100% Riesling
• Region: Eden Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
• Harvest Date: 16–19 March 2026
• Alcohol: 11.7%
• pH: 2.96
• Acidity: 7.35g/L
• Viticulture: Henschke Eden Valley Vineyard managed with organic and biodynamic practices
• Fermentation: Tank fermented
• Cellaring Potential: Exceptional vintage; 25+ years from vintage