Photo by Katrín Björk / Styling by Fría Kristinsdóttir
Nothing says Australian wine like Shiraz. The luscious fruit, chocolatey oak and powerful tannins of this warming, hug-in-a-glass wine has played a crucial role in cementing Australia’s global wine reputation.
But this full-bodied style, found mainly in warm South Australian regions like Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek, is only one chapter of the Australian Shiraz story. Syrah, as it’s known in the rest of the world, is produced by an estimated four out of five Oz wineries, in nearly all its 65 distinct winemaking regions.
From spicy, medium-weight, cool-climate expressions to gluggable, Pinot-esque bottles, modern Aussie Shiraz comes in a multitude of shapes and sizes.