Cracka Wines
 
If there is one grape that this country does best, it must be Shiraz, one of the top types of red wine. It is the grape that we have made our own with wines such as Penfolds Grange wowing drinkers around the world. Walk into most wine shops in the United States or Europe and you are sure to find a good selection of Australian Shiraz to choose from. While there was a time where Cabernet Sauvignon was flavour of the month, and old Shiraz vines were even being pulled from the ground because the wines couldn’t be given away, Australian Shiraz, or Syrah as it is sometimes known, is now more popular, and interesting, than ever before.
 
Generally Shiraz is thought of as being a big and robust red wine, made for a juicy steak or just for drinking all on its own. But while plenty of our Shiraz does still come in this style, especially from regions such as McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley in South Australia, Shiraz can be made to suit any palate. From sweet Rose to big and powerful alcoholic monsters Shiraz is the Jack of all trades.
 
Vineyard climate, though, has a great effect on wine style with full-bodied wines usually coming from warmer areas of South Australia, while cooler regions such as Coonawarra, Margaret River in Western Australia as well as parts of Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory making spicier, more perfumed wines. Another spot that has traditionally made good Shiraz is the Hunter Valley with the wines often a little earthy and leathery in character, especially after a couple of years in the bottle.
 
Shiraz is also equally good as a blending partner with other grapes. With Grenache and Mourvedre, Shiraz makes a very ripe style of red often with fairly high alcohol. Shiraz Cabernet blends are usually well structured and made for aging. A relatively recent addition, in Australia at least, has been the addition of the white Viognier grape to Shiraz. While it sounds a little odd Shiraz Viognier blends can be superb wines that are often very aromatic and supple in the mouth.
 
But whichever way you like it, Shiraz is worth getting to know because it produces types of red wine that have plenty of fruit and are generally great drinking as soon as they hit the shelves.