Shiraz

The Shiraz legend begins in the 13th century Crusades when the French knight Gaspard de Sterimberg discovered mouth-watering grapes near Shiraz in Persia. He took some cuttings to plant back home at his Hermitage (farm) in the Rhone Valley. In 1831, James Busby, a Scotsman and often referred to as "the Father of Australian viticulture", introduced Shiraz, (or Syrah, as it is known in France) cuttings to Australia. These cuttings were planted in Sydney’s Botanical Gardens and in the Hunter Valley, prior to being sent to South Australia in 1839. Syrah was firmly established as a prominent grape variety in Australia by the 1860’s. Today Australian Shiraz represents 40% of the total red grape crush and currently comprises one fifth of all national wine grape production.

A vigorously growing and disease resistant grape, Shiraz produces large bunches of up to 130 berries per bunch. It can be made into a range of styles, defined by the regions, soils/ terrain and the creativity & artistry of the winemaker. Ripe fruit, a fleshy mid palate, soft tannins and a kick of American oak became the formula for Australian Shiraz. However in an attempt to express regional flavours some winemakers are steering away from American oak barrels and using older French oak barrels to boast new styles and complexity.

South Australian regions are highly regarded for Shiraz in Australia. Regions such as the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and the Clare Valley have consistently produced some of the country's best Shiraz for many decades. These regions tend to produce very full bodied, high alcohol wines (up to 16%). The Barossa Valley claims to have the oldest known Shiraz vineyard in Australia.

Its versatility also became evident when it thrived in cooler climate regions such as Central Victoria, Coonawarra and Padthaway and Western Australia's Margaret River all producing Shiraz with marginally less alcohol content and often in a more traditional French style offering aromas including black cherry, pepper and spice characters rather than the chocolate and stewed plum flavours found in warmer climates.

Both domestic and internationally, Australian Shiraz is a highly acclaimed worldwide favourite red variety. The most famous example of the Australian Shiraz grape is the Penfolds "Grange" created by winemaker Max Schubert in 1951. Matured exclusively in new American Oak, Penfolds “Grange” is a multi-regional blend of the finest Shiraz from South Australia, with the Barossa Valley playing an important role. It often includes a small quantity of Cabernet Sauvignon, however there was also a rare one off Bin 9 Grange Cabernet Sauvignon created in 1953. Other revered Australian Shiraz wines include, the Henschke "Hill of Grace" and the Penfolds "RWT".

Dark, bold, ripe, sweet, spicy, plumy, virile, vivacious and with age, velvety and supple, Shiraz deserves its notoriety as Australia's front-runner.