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Shiraz is the great Australian red grape. It is a red wine grown throughout the country from the Hunter Valley, across to Margaret River and even down in Tasmania. And what makes it famous is the power of Australian Shiraz - nothing else quite comes close with South Australia home to many of our best with its big and bold blackberry and licorice fruits on a full-bodied palate. And while there are many other red wines to choose from, it is hard to ignore Shiraz when it is done well. While Pinot Noir has elegance, Cabernet Sauvignon has the structure and Merlot the soft, plush fruit, Shiraz, in particular from Australia, is hard to beat.
Australia’s most famous Shiraz (although often it is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon) is Penfolds Grange. First developed in the 1950’s by pioneering winemaker Max Schubert, this wine with Henschke’s Hill of Grace have shown the world how great Australian Shiraz can be, although in two quite different styles. Penfolds Grange is your classic South Australian ripe Shiraz style full of sweet fruit and oak while Henschke’s single vineyard Shiraz, from the Eden Valley, is a more elegant style.
Shiraz comes in two broad styles. There is the classic, warm climate Shiraz - bold and with layers of sweet fruit - that we see in regions such as the McLaren Vale, Clare Valley and the Barossa Valley. These wines generally have the fruit characters of blackberry and blueberry with leather and a touch of black pepper thrown in. And then there is the cooler climate style, sometimes known as Syrah, which we find in our cooler regions. These wines are generally more medium-bodied with red fruits, white pepper spice and sometimes with a touch of violets, and are found in regions such as the Adelaide Hills, Canberra and Great Western in Victoria. Better still is a mixed case where you can get a mix of great Shiraz.
Whether you love big bold Shiraz from the Barossa or an elegant Great Western Shiraz these wines are undoubtedly some of Australia’s top red wines.
Shiraz Wines
Shiraz is the great Australian red grape. It is a red wine grown throughout the country from the Hunter Valley, across to Margaret River and even down in Tasmania. And...what makes it famous is the power of Australian Shiraz - nothing else... quite comes close with South Australia home to many of our best with its big and bold blackberry and licorice fruits on a full-bodied palate. And while there are many other red wines to choose fro
