Australian Dry Red Wine
From LoveToKnow Wine
Shiraz is by far the most popular Australian dry red wine, but it is not the only red wine this large continent has to offer.
Australian Dry Red Wine Options
Shiraz is by far the most popular red wine out of Australia and of course, deserves mentioning. The thing is, Australia is a big continent and out of that big continent, comes a variety of different dry red wines. To make your exploration into Australian dry red wines, including Shiraz, below is a list of the finest dry reds Australia has to offer. The wines on these lists are categorized by price point.
- The WS Rating=Wine Spectator Rating
| Name | Varietal | Price | WS Rating |
| 2005 Razor's Edge - Two Hands Winery | Shiraz | $12 | 90 |
| 2003 Greg Norman Estates - Limestone Coast | Cabernet/Shiraz Blend | $15 | 91 |
| 2004 Black Opal | Cabernet | $12 | 83 |
| 2005 Shotfire Ridge - Thorne Clark | Shiraz | $20 | 92 |
| 2004 Water Wheel | Shiraz | $18 | 91 |
| 2004 Three Rings | Shiraz | $20 | 91 |
| 2003/2004 Banrock Station | Cabernet | $7 | 83 |
| Name | Varietal | Price | WS Rating |
| 2004 Penfold's Bin 389 | Cabernet/Shiraz Blend | $30 | 90 |
| 1999 Classic Clare – Leasingham Winery | Cabernet Sauvignon | $37 | 92 |
| 2005 Henry's Drive - Henry's Drive Winery | Shiraz | $40 | 89 |
| 2004 Taltarni Heathcote - Taltarni Vineyards | Shiraz | $40 | 90 |
| 1999 St. Hallett's Blackwell --- St. Hallett Winery | Shiraz | $35 | 91 |
| 2005 Gnarly Dudes - Two Hands Winery | Shiraz | $35 | 91 |
| 2004 Testament - Kilikanoon Winery | Shiraz | $50 | 92 |
| Name | Varietal | Price | WS Rating |
| 2004 Penfold's Bin 707-Penfolds Winery | Cabernet | $85 | 92 |
| 2005 Bella's Garden-Two Hands Winery | Shiraz | $65 | 95 |
| 2004 The Bull and the Bear–Two Hands Winery | Cabernet/Shiraz Blend | $60 | 91 |
| 2003 Old Block–St. Hallett | Shiraz | $70 | 92 |
| 2001 Meshach–Grant Burge | Shiraz | $80 | 94 |
| 2006 Gigglepot-Mollydooker | Cabernet | $55 | 91 |
| 2006 Blue Eyed Boy–Mollydooker | Shiraz | $55 | 92 |
| Name | Varietal | Price | WS Rating |
| 2002 Penfold's Grange - Penfold's Winery | Shiraz | $239 | 95 |
| 2004 Coach House Block Rare Shiraz-Branson Coach House | Shiraz | $109 | 95 |
| 2004 Ares – Two Hands Winery | Shiraz | $109 | 97 |
Popular Australian Wine Growing Regions
Interest in Australian wine began around 10 to 15 years ago. This increased interest is often attributed to the rise of Shiraz, Australia's take on Syrah (or Sirah, if you prefer). Australian wine may have been relatively unheard of 20 or 30 years ago, but Australians have been making wine since the mid 1800's.
- Adelaide Hills – Adelaide Hills is known for producing wines that are deep, complex and full bodied in flavor characteristics and well balanced in acid structure.
- Barossa Valley – One of the most well-known wine growing regions in South Australia. Wines produced in the Barossa Valley are full-bodied and known for their intensely concentrated flavor characteristics. Popular Australian wineries Jacob's Creek and Penfold's are located in the Barossa Valley.
- McLaren Vale – McLaren Vale produces what is considered the most consistent wine in South Australia. This is due largely to the climate that generally experiences adequate rainfall for the vineyards, long summers and frost rarely, if ever, presents itself. This consistent climate makes it difficult to find a "bad" bottle of wine from McLaren Vale.
- Langhorne Creek – Known for producing award winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, wines produced in this region are famous for their full, forward fruit flavors and soft tannic structure.
- Hunter Valley – Hunter Valley is one of the most popular and well-known Australian wine-growing regions and is sometimes considered to be where Australian wine was born. Steeped in a long wine making history, Hunter Valley wines will please any palate, from the novice to the connoisseur.
- Bendigo – If you are looking for bright berry flavors in an Australian red wine, look to wines produced in the Victorian wine-growing region of Bendigo.
Final Notes
The Wine Spectator ratings are given in the lists above because they can be used as a great starting point when you are first beginning to explore Australian red wine. As always, no matter what Wine Spectator, The Wine Advocate or other wine magazines have to say, the wine you love to drink is a personal choice.
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