Red wine guide

Shiraz

Full-bodied red with blackberry, pepper and spice; strong with lamb, beef, barbecue and rich gravies.

Recipes that pair with it Good vs bad bottles Wine guide

Wine story

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..

Regions

Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain, Germany

Grapes

Shiraz

Style

Full Red · 11-14%

Style profile

Colour Red

Body Full

Acidity Medium

Tannin Medium High

Sweetness Dry

Oak Medium

Sparkling Still

ABV 11-14%

Flavour profile: Full-bodied red with blackberry, pepper and spice; strong with lamb, beef, barbecue and rich gravies.

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.

Typical regions

Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain, Germany

Typical countries

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

Seafood poultry lamb barbecue creamy sauces and desserts depending on style.

Pairings to avoid

Very hot chilli or highly bitter dishes can make wine taste harsh.

What makes a good or bad Shiraz?

Good version

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.

Bad version

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.

Buying tip

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.

Serving tip

Serve Shiraz at around 16-18°C. Serving temperature matters because too warm can make wine feel heavy, while too cold can mute flavour.

Storage tip: Store Shiraz somewhere cool, dark and stable. Most everyday bottles are best enjoyed for freshness, while more structured or premium examples may develop with time.

Food pairing

Dishes that go well with Shiraz

This section flips the recipe pairing system: instead of showing wines on a recipe, it shows the active recipes that have been paired with this wine style.