| Shiraz, or Syrah as it is known in France where it | | | | Sauvignon now accounts for a large proportion of |
| originated from, is an immensely important grape | | | | the Hunter Valley vine acreage. |
| variety in Australia. It is seen to be a workhorse | | | | Perhaps the model for Australian Shiraz comes |
| one due to its consistent heavy cropping, but in | | | | from The Barossa Valley in the form of the |
| recent years Shiraz has been used to blend with | | | | famous and much loved Penfolds 'Grange'. Made |
| many different varieties to great effect. This has | | | | entirely from local fruit, this is a wine of |
| helped to give Shiraz the seal of quality it has | | | | extraordinary dimension and power, while being |
| today. | | | | richly textured and intensely concentrated it is |
| A single varietal Shiraz may be considered to be | | | | packed with natural fruit sweetness. |
| rather basic especially if grown in very hot areas. | | | | Another promising style of Shiraz is being |
| The grapes from higher yielding vines will then | | | | produced in the cooler south western part of the |
| almost become over-ripe and taste slightly sweet | | | | country around Coonawarra. The acid levels are |
| and therefore lose a certain amount of | | | | kept well up producing appetizing wines with that |
| concentration of fruit. This could be typical 'hot | | | | wonderful dry peppery quality that we are so |
| country' red wine that has had much of the flavor | | | | familiar with. These wines keep their color and |
| cooked out of it. But the Australians have | | | | age extremely well. It is here that the Australian |
| extensive plantings of this noble grape and if | | | | wine industry showed the world what successful |
| anyone is going to exploit it, they will - and have! | | | | if unlikely partners Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon |
| The Hunter Valley is one area with its | | | | can be. |
| quality-conscious winemakers able to turn the | | | | There are numerous premier Shiraz producers |
| huge amounts of Shiraz into some really serious | | | | such as Penfolds, Hardys, Henschke, Orlando, |
| wines. As this region has relatively poor soils, | | | | Peter Lehmann Wines, Rosemount, Wolf Blass, |
| which incidentally is great for vines, combined with | | | | Lindemans, Wynns and Yalumba as well as many |
| high temperatures, a very distinctive style of wine | | | | other excellent wineries. |
| is produced. Shiraz is known as Hunter 'Hermitage' | | | | With a wide climate range throughout Australia |
| here. | | | | and top class winemakers, it is no wonder that |
| If yields are kept to as little as half a tonne per | | | | they have, and continue to discover how to work |
| acre and the weather has been right, i.e. not too | | | | this magical old grape variety and extract so |
| hot, then the wine can develop an extraordinary | | | | many different flavours from it. |
| unique style of its own. The wine will show a | | | | That's why Shiraz is such a versatile wine in |
| richness of an almost chocolaty character with a | | | | Australia, and why it has withstood the test of |
| notable mineral tang. Shiraz is still very much the | | | | time. |
| red wine grape of the area however Cabernet | | | | |