If Australia truly excels in making a particular wine, then it must be Shiraz, one of the best of the reds. It is the grape that we have made our own with wines such as Penfolds Grange wowing drinkers around the world. Walk into most wine shops in the United States or Europe and you are sure to find a good selection of Australian Shiraz to choose from. At the time with Cabernet Sauvignon was the dominant flavour, Shiraz’s lack of popularity meant that you couldn’t give a bottle away, now Shiraz has had a resurgence is more interesting and in demand than ever before.
Many feel that Shiraz with its robust flavour, is best suited when consumed with a juicy steak or even better, drunk alone. But while plenty of our Shiraz does still come in this style, especially from regions such as McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley in South Australia, Shiraz can be made to suit any palate. From the sweet Rose red to the full flavoured and strongly alcoholic wines, Shiraz is one of the most versatile grapes.
Vineyard climate, though, has a great effect on red wine style with full-bodied wines usually coming from warmer areas of South Australia, while cooler regions such as Coonawarra, Margaret River in Western Australia as well as parts of Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory making spicier, more perfumed wines. Another spot that has traditionally made good Shiraz is the Hunter Valley with the wines often a little earthy and leathery in character, especially after a couple of years in the bottle.
Shiraz is also an excellent when blended with other grapes. With the inclusion of grapes Grenache and Mourvedre grapes, Shiraz has a very ripe red often that often has a high alcohol content. Shiraz Cabernet is ideal for aging and well structured. A new addition to the Shiraz blend in this country has been to add Viognier to Shiraz. Surprisingly, you may find that a Shiraz Viognier blend can be quite aromatic and have a subtle flavour, as result producing some excellent wines.
But whichever way you like it, Shiraz is worth getting to know because it produces types of red wine that have plenty of fruit and are generally great drinking as soon as they hit the shelves.
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