The Best Australian Shiraz 2025

Kiwis adore Aussie shiraz, so our expert judges put their palates through their paces to find the best examples available in Aotearoa...

It’s been three gaspingly long years since we devoted a Tasting Panel to one of New Zealand’s favourite red wines, Australian shiraz. We love its bold, blackcurranty, spicy, plummy, peppery plushness and its serious bang for buck. It’s a supermarket powerhouse, and Kiwis soak up Olympic-sized swimming pools of the stuff every year. In 2023 alone, 9.6 million litres (that’s 10.7 million bottles) of Australian shiraz were exported to New Zealand from a total production of 400 million litres. It’s Australia’s most-grown red grape, with around 40,000 hectares of it planted—a staggering statistic considering New Zealand’s entire vineyard area is just 42,000 hectares.

Australian shiraz and New Zealand syrah are also the same grape. Fact. Yet having different names for the same grape on either side of the Tasman is actually a good thing, because our vastly different climates, soils and winemaking techniques create vastly different wines, so there’s no point comparing them. They’ve been growing it for longer than us, however. Australia is home to the world’s oldest continuously fruiting shiraz vines, with vineyards dating back to 1843 still turning out superb wine today.

We put the call out to our local importers and distributors to see examples of 100 percent shiraz, shiraz-dominant blends and sparkling shiraz, and entries poured in from across the lucky country. Our judges sought concentrated fruit, defined spices, well-managed alcohols (shiraz can typically run to 14.5% or higher), expertly integrated oak and refreshing textures. Did they find them? You bet your Bunyip they did!

While every major Australian wine region was represented, South Australia reigned supreme, and it was the mighty Barossa that delivered the most medals.

AND our Top of the Tasting winner came roaring in at just $17.00 a bottle! That’s spectacular value for money! In fact nine of our top-ranked examples came in under $30.00!

So get out the good goblets and get set to be served some of the tastiest sips this side of the Tasman — enjoy!

TOP OF THE TASTING - The Hidden Sea South Australia Shiraz 2023 ($17.00) – Gold Medal + Best Buy

What does this wine not contain! With its immediate hit of cocoa-dusted blackcurrant complexity, layers of smoked vanilla, masses of menthol, tobacco and chocolate box brilliance, it delivers dark berries for days. Densely textural yet vibrantly energetic, our judges kept coming back for more. Its mouthfeel has density and a lacing of dusty oak, which accentuates the warm, dry tannins creating an enticing, extra-lengthy finish. Classically styled, crammed with character and crazy-good value for money. blackmarket.co.nz

2. St Hallet Blockhead Barossa Shiraz 2021 ($25.00) – Gold Medal

Inky and intense, the Blockhead erupts with ripe blackberries, blueberry compote, and a dusting of vanilla spice. Bold yet refined, it layers dense, dark fruit with violet florals, framed by mouthwatering acidity and fine, grippy tannins. The palate is powerful and poised. Concentrated cherry notes glide into a strikingly long finish, where hints of mocha and crushed pepper linger. Seamless, structured, and built to evolve. blackmarket.co.nz

3. The Black Pig McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023 ($27.00) – Gold Medal

Textbook McLaren Vale magic brimming with ripe redcurrant, cherry, and white pepper. Lifted thyme and violet florals add aromatic intrigue, while the palate unfolds with juicy plum, cocoa-dipped blueberries, and a dusting of vanilla. Fine tannins frame the wine, balancing its red-fruit vibrancy with savoury, suede-like undertones. The finish is long and polished, with a whisper of dusty oak and a bright, peppery lift. laithwaites.co.nz

4. Yalumba Samuel's Collection Barossa Shiraz 2022 ($26.00) – Gold Medal

An inky, impenetrable powerhouse, with a nose of blackberry, molasses, crushed Kalamata olives and hints of dark cocoa, and a palate that’s both dense and dynamic. Luscious waves of ripe berryfruit collide with savoury, dried herb notes, while velvety textures swell into a lip-sizzling finish. Sweet, cough-drop warmth meets woolly, grippy tannins. Electrifying. advintage.co.nz

5. Taylors Reserve Parcel Clare Valley Shiraz 2023 ($22.00) – Gold Medal + Best Buy

Clare Valley class, boasting a bouquet of boysenberry and baked quince, which merge with vanilla and mocha richness. The palate is plush and lively, offering layers of spiced summer berries and a touch of tobacco leaf. Velvety tannins carry the wine to a sweet-fruited finish, while earthy herbs and cocoa-dusted acidity keep it fresh. It balances opulence with vibrancy and sippability. winesale.co.nz

6. Sons of Eden Zephyrus Barossa Shiraz 2021 ($60.00) – Gold Medal

A seductively stormy style that’s deeply inky, showing black plum, raspberry liquorice, and bay leaf aromas laced with florals and spice. The palate contrasts plush richness with emery-firm tannins, while glossy layers of dark fruit and olive unfold with refreshing energy. Though opulent and mouthfilling, vibrant acidity keeps it fresh, leading to a lengthy, textured, spice-laden finish. advintage.co.nz

7. Kilikanoon Barossa Reserve South Australia Shiraz 2020 ($27.00) – Gold Medal

Glowing brick-red, it’s warm, woolly and wonderful with aromas of ripe blackcurrant, eucalypt, and brûléed toffee, alongside hints of exotic florals and white pepper. It’s plush and velvety, offering layers of dark berries, smoky vanilla, and spice. Lush acidity balances its richness, while a seamless, silky texture carries the wine to a marathon-length finish. laithwaites.co.nz

8. Sons of Eden Marschall Barossa Valley Shiraz 2023 ($36.00) – Gold Medal

A brooding, glossy shiraz, steeped in boysenberry jam, damson plum, and heady five spice. Dark cocoa, tobacco, and bay leaf weave through its rich, ripe core, while assertive tannins frame the wine. Though bold and peppery, a softly medicinal mid-palate adds intrigue. Harmonious and powerful, with all the tobacco-tastic, five spice hallmarks of a classic example. cove27.co.nz

9. De Bortoli Woodfired Heathcote Shiraz 2022 ($22.00) – Silver Medal

An elegant example swirling with mulberry, blackberry, and dark cocoa, hints of bay leaf, vanilla, and a whisper of espresso. Though youthful, there’s ballerina poise here: blackcurrant and spice glide across the palate with elegant precision, leading to a finish of delicious length. Seductive yet restrained, it’s a youthful wine with a huge future ahead. bigbarrel.co.nz

10. Brockenchack Jack Harrison Eden Valley Barossa Shiraz 2016 ($74.00) – Silver Medal

Brick-brown, deeply inky and almost a decade old, it’s maturing gracefully and brimming with damson plum and caramelised vanillin notes alongside espresso, black liquorice, dried herbs, and molasses. The palate is supple and earthy, while velvety tannins frame layers of cocoa, tobacco, and spiced fruit, giving gum-tingling grip and tension. brockenchack.nz

11. Torbreck Woodcutters Barossa Shiraz 2023 ($36.00) – Silver Medal

A seductive, compelling example that’s inky and glossy with a nose of smoked blueberry, blackcurrant, and graphite alongside hints of charred oak and mocha. The palate shows intensity with silky layers of red plum, tar, and dark berries, which glide over finely structured tannins. Savoury and smoky, yet fresh and vibrant, it also boasts impressive length. whiskyandmore.co.nz

12. Elderton East Wing Barossa Shiraz 2021 ($48.00) – Silver Medal

Classically styled and erupting with red berries, leather, and freshly ground pepper. The nose bursts with eucalypt and menthol — a signature of its Barossan roots — while the palate delivers dark berries, espresso, and earthy spice. Supple tannins and a ribbon of grippy acidity keep it lively, leading to a fuzzy, spice-laced finish. Dangerously drinkable. laithwaites.co.nz

13. Bleasdale Langhorne Creek Sparkling Shiraz NV ($27.00) – Silver Medal

A bold, spice-packed sparkling style brimming with black fruits, plum, and cranberry. Served chilled, it’s irresistibly fresh with florals lifting the nose, while its bright, effervescent palate balances richness and vibrancy and delivers a clean, drying finish. It’s a full-bodied fizzy treat with tautness and tension. blackmarket.co.nz

14. Taylors Jaraman Clare Valley McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023 ($26.00) – Silver Medal

The Jaraman roars with power and concentration. With black forest gateau, charred vanilla, and sawdusty oak upfront and a core of dark, concentrated fruit, it’s supple and lush, with a palate that coats like velvet. A crowd-pleaser with gravitas. Available in supermarkets

*BEST BUY status is given to sub-$25.00 wines achieving Gold Medal awards.

Our Tasting Panels operate under strict competition conditions at EIT Hawke’s Bay, and we thank The Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction for the use of their glassware.