Discover Your Perfect Shiraz: Bold & Peppery or Smooth & Subtle?

Shiraz is one of those grapes that everyone has an opinion on. It's a bit Iike marmite - people either love it or hate it. But it's far more than that and actually offers a huge variety of styles! We had previously thought of Shiraz, especially from Australia, as being full of big, intense flavours. The tannins seemed a bit rich, and the deep dark fruits somewhat overwhelming. But once you start exploring, you discover the wild and glorious variety hidden within each bottle.

There are plenty of overly extracted, heavy shiraz wines out there, but we've realised that a great Barossa Shiraz is a rare and beautiful beast indeed.. and it differs dramatically from a cool-climate shiraz. The Adelaide Hills, for example, brings an entirely different profile to the Barossa, while the sea-air soaked Geelong peninsula differs wildly again. If you read the recent excellent article by Julie Sheppard in Decanter, she highlighted how winemaking has evolved Down Under. There's a growing appreciation for Aussie Shiraz and its versatile, diverse flavors. Our range celebrates these differences, catering to all tastes and it's growing all the time.

Shiraz is known as Syrah in the Old World, but to add to the confusion, some New World producers use the term Syrah, signaling a wine with a lighter, more European palette. Shiraz is a small, very deep purple grape with thick skins that contribute to its well developed tannins. Because it can produce such big fruit flavours, it's very often blended with other grapes - most famously with Grenache & Mourvèdre in the classic GSM blend. But winemakers are getting ever more creative. Increasingly it's blended with other Old World varietals such as with Cabernet to make a really smooth very drinkable wine and in Australia, with Viognier to lighten the pallet. You'll even find Shiraz - Pinot Noir blends. I know, sounds mental right? Wait till you taste it. In the summer we can't wait to introduce you to Mikey Sawyer's 50/50 light and shade blend!

The signature peppery kick many associate with Shiraz or Syrah comes from a compound called rotundone - the same natural aromatic also found in pepper. It's concentrated in grape skins and shows up more prominently in cooler climate wines. This is why a French Cote-Rotie has the same peppery edge as wines made in the Geelong, Australia, which is where Oakdene is based.

Here's a taste of what's in our Shiraz collection:

Because of its rich, smokey, fruit-driven flavour profile, Shiraz is a natural partner for food. It goes perfectly with slow-cooked lamb, baby back ribs or grilled vegetables with paprika. Indeed it's surely no surprise that Shiraz goes best with a BBQ - steak, smoked meats, pulled pork... you name it. That peppery finish, the dark fruit-driven nose, the hint of chocolate all balanced with just the right acidity - it's the perfect wine for a great meal, whether it's winter or summer!