Choosing wine is hard. Gifting wine is harder. Luckily there’s something special for everyone in Henschke’s latest release.

We may be biased, but we reckon a good drop of wine is the best present you can receive. From milestone birthdays to important anniversaries, wine is the gift that can and will keep giving. But buying wine for someone other than yourself is a tricky art. Like a grown-up Goldilocks, you’re tasked with finding something not too expensive, not too cheap, not too boring, and not too weird, something juuuust right. It’s a lot.

Lucky for all of us, Henschke have just dropped their latest vintage wine release. Excitement she wrote! Hailing from South Australia’s Eden Valley wine region, Henschke have been producing and bottling the good stuff for 154 years. They’re experts in crafting truly wow-worthy wine – drops to savour, cherish and toast – and this release is no different.

So if you’re on gift patrol, what better wine to bestow upon your lucky recipient than a Henschke? We can safely confirm that anyone would be happy to receive one of these bottles (this writer included), so below is our guide to the newest Henschke wine release and how to gift them for every occasion.

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Henschke Hill Of Grace Shiraz 2017

This is the mack-daddy of the new vintage Henschkes and for good reason. It’s often compared to Penfolds Grange (you know, the most famous wine in the Southern Hemisphere?) because it’s just that damn good. Which makes this particular single vineyard drop a big deal in the wine world. This is the kind of pressie where you and your siblings chip in for your parents’ anniversary – one of the big ones. You can cellar this beauty for decades, or crack into it now with a big ol’ steak. Either way, it's a great investment that’ll put a huge smile on the face of any wine lover.

Henschke Mt Edelstone Shiraz 2017

Just as gift-worthy, but not quite as pricey, is the Henschke Mt Edelstone Shiraz. If Hill of Grace is out of budget, consider this beauty, still more than weighty enough for a special occasion and incredibly delicious. Grown from vines planted in 1912, we consider this the ideal ‘congratulations’ wine. If your best mate has finally proposed to the love of their life, you gift the Mt Edelstone. If your partner has just finished their PhD, you wrap up the Mt Edelstone. If your boss has finally decided to retire – you guessed it – you surprise them with the Mt Edelstone. Give the gift of this fabulous wine and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

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Henschke Keyneton Euphonium

Ah, Henschke Keyneton Euphonium – quite a mouthful in more ways than one. Of course, Barossa’s Keyneton region is where you’ll find the Henschke winery, but it’s also the historical home of the Henschke Family Brass Band (how very Sound of Music!). Founded in 1888, the band’s shining centrepiece was a B flat euphonium – a large, brass wind instrument produced by the famous Zimmermann factory in Leipzig, Germany. And just like the instrument that lends its name, this wine is rich and full and wonderfully special.

Shiraz grapes from 50-year-old vines in the Eden and Barossa Valley regions are blended with equally outstanding cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc fruit. Totally delicious, but still totally affordable. Gift this at Christmas (or Christmas in July) for that hard-to-buy-for, wine-loving aunt or uncle. Bravo.

Henschke Henrys 7 Shiraz Grenache Viognier

Let us set the scene. You’ve been invited to meet the parents for the first time. You’ve been dating a while, but not that long, maybe just past the four-month mark. You like them, you need it to go well. You’re nervous and definitely don’t want to rock up empty-handed, but you don’t want to come on too strong either. THIS is the wine to bring.

This wine is a tribute to Henry Evans who planted the first vineyard of seven acres at Keyneton in 1853 (who quickly developed a rep for producing the best wines in the area). The blend of shiraz, grenache, mataro, and viognier grapes is a nod to the introduction of southern French and Spanish varieties to South Australia in those early pioneering days and reflects the history and culture of the Barossa. So not only do you have a delicious wine to present to your future in-laws, you’ve also got something to talk about.

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Henschke Apple Tree Bench Shiraz Cabernet

Next up, we’ve got the lovely crimson-violet coloured Shiraz Cabernet. This drop is a floral, peppery, satsuma-y (definitely a real word) sensation on the nose, while on the palate it’s a fun mix of blackberry, anise and cedary oak. Super grown up and super yum. It’s a special bottle, but unlike some of the more ultra-premium wines, a tad more casual. So, where in the gifting pyramid does this wine belong? We reckon it’s the perfect housewarming gift: classy but not over the top.

Henschke Johann's Garden

A delightfully interesting drop from the Heschke fam, Johann’s Garden is a superb blend of grenache, mataro and shiraz grapes. It’s a deliciously rich, medium-bodied wine with notes of raspberry, baked plum, musk and celery salt. You know, if you’re into that kind of thing. (We are.)

We’re getting cuddle-up-with-your-special-someone vibes, so we’d suggest giving this wine as part of a romantic gift. Maybe as a part of a Valentine’s Day or anniversary picnic present? You know, set the mood, roll out a blanket, lay out some charcuterie and some cheese and top it off with a soothing glass of Johann’s Garden while you’re in the garden. Perfect, no?