Winemaker Stephen Henschke’s walk through Hill of Grace vineyard for inaugural German Week

Legendary winemakers and an iconic Bavarian-style beerfest will star in the inaugural festival later this month.

An inaugural German Week, celebrating one of the state’s most significant pioneering groups, will include a guided walk through the legendary Hill of Grace vineyard and a Bavarian-style Oktoberfest.

Running from September 25 to October 3, the program also includes German music at Elder Park’s rotunda, a Palace Nova German movie night and a business and innovation day bringing together universities, industry and government.

With backers including the German Embassy, the week also includes a book reading live from Berlin with the author of Nackt im Hotel, Jo Schuck. This will be staged at the wine bar and private museum of one of Australia’s great winemakers, Wolf Blass, in Australia’s first German settlement, Hahndorf.

Winemaker Wolf Blass inside the Wolf Blass Centre at Norwood Football Club in 2021. Picture: Emma Brasier

Fifth-generation Barossa winemaker Stephen Henschke and wife Prue will host a history walk through their famous Hill of Grace vineyard, also taking in Gnadenberg church, cemetery and the German school in historic Parrot Hill village.

“My family had a huge involvement with that village – both my great-great grandfathers were involved. It’s just a great opportunity to show people the authenticity of what the Barossa early settlement was about from the 1850s,” Mr Henschke said at the German Week’s launch.

Stephen and Prue Henschke in the Hill of Grace Vineyard with the Gnadenberg Church in the background. Pic by Dragan Radocaj

Honorary Consul for Germany in South Australia Matthew Williams said the events celebrating German culture, language, food and history marked the 70th year of diplomatic relations between Germany and Australia.

“There is something for everyone, from those who seek to improve their culinary skills with a Flammenkuche (a German-style pizza) masterclass, to enjoying a German beer at the Oktoberfest in the beautiful Adelaide Hills,” Mr Williams said.

The October 2 Oktoberfest will be staged at Prancing Pony Brewery, Totness, just north of Mount Barker.

Organised immigration to SA from Germany began from 1838, with the sponsorship by South Australian Company chairman George Fife Angas of a group of religious refugees from Silesia (now southeastern Germany and mostly within Poland). By World War I, 10 per cent of South Australians were of German descent.

More information, schedules and tickets are at www.adelaide.germanweek.com.au