Hey Paolo E-Meets: Hentley Farm National Brand Ambassador Angus Heida

The world-renowned South Australian wine region of Barossa Valley will probably never run short of award-winning premium wine suppliers, but the real challenge is how to create a sustainable business model most especially in this ever-evolving times. Hentley Farm’s National Brand Ambassador Angus Heida gives us a peek into today’s wine industry and shares with us a taste of their estate’s most valued troves.

Hey Paolo: When was the Hentley Farm established?

Situated along the western ridge of the Barossa, the Hentley Farm estate was purchased by Keith and Allison Hentschke in 1997 after discovering the uniqueness of the area from a 1950s soil map found at a local library.

Hey Paolo: What’s the history and inspiration behind this winery?

With the Hentscke family dating back to some of the first European settlers in the Barossa, Keith and Allison were very keen to continue the family tradition and begin their own Barossa story by planting their first vines in 1999. They started with Shiraz and Zinfandel, and now, Hentley Farm boasts a humble 150 acres with a mix of Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and a very small vineyard for our only white variety, Viognier.

Hey Paolo: Must-tries at Hentley Farm?

The Hentley Farm story always begins in the vineyard and we are so proud to “grow” wines which do not only reflect the diversity and natural style of our location but also the talents of our people. I would always recommend to taste the wines which let you experience this story for yourself: The Beauty Shiraz, The Beast Shiraz, The Old Legend Grenache (The 2018 vintage for this wine won the overall best wine at the coveted 2019 Barossa wine Show), and The Stray Mongrel GSZ.

Not only are these premium wines delicious, but these are also 100% Hentley Farm grown fruits.

We also believe that the second-to-none Hentley Farm wine experience is enhanced by amazing food and a beautiful setting, so I encourage anyone to also indulge in our award-winning restaurant. We are incredibly honoured to say that since opening our restaurant doors in 2012, we have been awarded the best restaurant in South Australia more than once.

Hey Paolo: How has the South Australian wine scene evolved in the last five (5) years?

The South Australian wine scene has continuously changed in the last five years for the better. So many wineries are realizing the changes and adapting their wine experiences for the increased tourism coming from the local community, interstate visitors, and international guests.

There are two key elements in selling wine: a quality product and a quality experience. When you continually do this, then you can build loyalty to achieve brand sustainably. It is fantastic to see many wineries having this mindset.

The South Australia wine scene has also changed in a way that international markets are appreciating our products more and more, such as China. We can see this from the increase in Chinese tourist visits to our cellar doors and winery restaurants, as well as the increase in price per litre of South Australian wine sold to this market.

Hey Paolo: Where do you see South Australia’s wine industry progressing in the years to come?

 The South Australian wine industry has a great foundation for the future with Adelaide standing tall as one of the wine capitals of the world and with the developing competitiveness between wine tourism destinations, producers, and distributors around our state.

Due to the fact that South Australia’s most notable wine regions, including the Barossa, are conveniently located within one hour from Adelaide, I know that South Australia will forever be a place of importance in the international wine community.

Also, as we are first and foremost grape growers, we are so dependent on our terroir and mother nature’s wonders, so climate change is always a topic of discussion when it comes to viticulture. The South Australian wine community can never forget its rich history of wine making and the great strides we have made to set ourselves apart from the rest of the world.

Quite rightly put, “…knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family…” (Kofi Annan, seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations). With South Australia’s strength of expertise in the wine industry we can always be proud of what we achieve.

HENTLEY FARM WINES. Corner of Gerald Roberts Road and Jenke Roads, Seppeltsfield
Cellar Door open 7 days a week 11am-5pm
Restaurant open for lunch Thursday to Sunday & dinner Friday and Saturday.
Cellar Door & Restaurant Tel: +61 8 8562 8427 / Website: https://www.hentleyfarm.com.au/

Thoughts: “Personally fell in love with South Australian wines and the Barossa wine region ever since I migrated here in 2019. The quality of their products are undeniably top-notch. Plus these winery estates are the perfect weekend hangout spots for tastings and lunches. Can’t wait to visit Henley Farm soon… because, apparently, I haven’t been yet!”

– Hey Paolo