What is Shiraz?
Shiraz is a red wine style best understood through its balance of fruit, freshness, body, tannin, sweetness and texture. Full-bodied red with blackberry, pepper and spice; strong with lamb, beef, barbecue and rich gravies. Typical flavours include Full-bodied red with blackberry, pepper and spice; strong with lamb, beef, barbecue and rich gravies..
Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain, Germany
Shiraz
Full Red · 11-14%
Style profile
Grapes, regions and character
Shiraz is commonly associated with Shiraz. The grape choice shapes the wine’s aroma, structure, acidity, body and food-pairing personality. Classic regions include Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain, Germany.
Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain, Germany
Australia; New Zealand; France; Italy; Spain; Germany
What does Shiraz pair well with?
Pair Shiraz by matching the wine’s weight, acidity, sweetness and tannin to the dish. It works especially well with Seafood, poultry, lamb, barbecue, creamy sauces and desserts depending on style.. It is usually less successful with Very hot chilli or highly bitter dishes can make wine taste harsh..
Best food matches
Pairings to avoid
What makes a good or bad Shiraz?
A good Shiraz should taste balanced, expressive and clean. Look for clear fruit, freshness, structure and a finish that suits the style. The acidity is usually medium, so the wine should feel lively without becoming harsh. The body is usually full, so it should match the weight expected from this style.
A poor Shiraz can taste flat, tired, harsh, thin, overly sweet, too alcoholic or unbalanced. Avoid bottles where oak, bitterness, heat or sweetness dominate the fruit, freshness and structure.
When buying Shiraz, look for bottles where the region, grape and producer style match the food you want to cook. Useful countries to look at include Australia; New Zealand; France; Italy; Spain; Germany.
Serve Shiraz at around 16-18°C. Serving temperature matters because too warm can make wine feel heavy, while too cold can mute flavour.
