From the King Valley in Victoria's high country, a good deal of pruning and thinning of Syrah and Dolcetto vines, together with some hand picking and selection of fruit. Cane cutting techniques have shrivelled the berries, concentrating the sugars and bittersweet grape tannins, whilst still on the vine. A wine of explosive Dolcetto characters with flavours akin to the shed dried styles of Italy's Veneto region, De Bortoli have achieved, an exciting fresh red, fully Euro in styling with the emphasis on fruit, suppleness and food friendliness.

Serafino Maglieri came to McLaren Vale in 1968 and devoted his life to wine. From picking to pruning to cellarhand, he worked his way up to plant his own vines and build his first winery. He was twice crowned McLaren Vale Bushing King and claimed Trophy for Best Shiraz at the 1997 Great Australian Wine Challenge. He gained international renown after winning Trophy for Best Shiraz and Red Wine of the Year at the prestigious London International.

Giovanni Maglieri worked at Pirramimma in the late 1950s. He was joined by 17 year old Serafino in 1963, the father and son team bought forty hectares of scrub and set about the task of clearing it for vines. After founding one of McLaren Vale's most eminent wineries, Serafino embarked upon his own label, cultivating a lineage of the most memorable vintages in McLaren Vale viticulture. The idyllic growing seasons and pristine soils along historic Kangarilla Road contribute to the creation of outstanding wines which express the uniqueness of terroir, sunshine and clime.

A baronial Barossa estate with a proud tradition of Australian agriculture which dates back to 1866, Schild have amassed a remarkable list of international awards for their stately wines. Their offerings are highly treasured by enthusiasts around the world. A dry grown, bush vine Grenache, Mourvedre Shiraz, from blocks averaging seventy years of age, precious old sites which are able to withstand wicked bursts of Barossa heat. The gnarled old vines are treated to meticulous viticultural management, yielding berries of outstanding quality.

SC Pannell makes Rose like no other, it's not just about the mix of grapes, Mourvedre, Grenache Noir and Touriga Nacional, Arido brings the affable arcadian varietals into a seamless accord of perfectly pitched piquancy, languid tannin ripeness and ripe, juicy flesh. Grapes are gently pressed and fermented au sauvage for an opulence of sylvan character and charm. White flowers and Aperol, watermelons and raspberry, blood oranges and sherbet, Arido redefines Rosé, its market garden palate and weight of fruit beckoning you to come back for another sip.

By the winner of the 2014 Jimmy Watson Trophy! During his time as chief red wine maker at Hardy's, Stephen Pannell became intmate with many of the greater Adelaide region's most splendid sites. A predominantly Syrah wine with a de rigueur inclusion of good Viognier, all picked off a superior low yielding Adelaide Hills vineyard. An outstanding and engaging new world articulation of the timeless Rhone Valley style, elegant and refined, an underlying sense of power and depth of flavour, a delight to share alongside appropriately five star cuisine.

Few winemakers have played as significant a role as Rosemount, for bringing Australian wines to appreciative enthusiasts around the globe. Quality is the key to success, traditional techniques such as natural yeast ferments, malolactic and luxury oak, remain at the core of winemaking methodology. At the Rosemount McLaren Vale wineworks, a collection of old open vats, a century of age, are still employed to craft parcels of Grenache, Mouverdre and Shiraz, selected from the finest local vineyards, on the basis of fragrantly perfumed aromatics, intensity of complex flavours and ripe, velvet tannins.

Rosemount have drawn many of their most memorable vintages from McLaren Vale, they retain an inventory of the finest sites and know the best growers. First released in 1994, GSM is Rosemount Estate’s ultimate rendering of McLaren Vale, the rich, spicy fruit flavours of old bush vine Grenache balances the opulence and power of Shiraz, the firmness of structure from Mourvèdre. A highly fragrant style, bursting with a cornucopia of red cherries, mulberry, violets and lifted floral spice, its dark plum palate is underpinned by a length of white chocolate and nutmeg oak.

Half Shiraz from the estate Stephanie vineyard, just adjacent the Rolf Binder wineworks. A third of Mourvedre, picked off a precious block of bush vine planted in the 1880s. The balance in Grenache from old Binder vines at Gomersal and Light Pass. A moreish medley of blue bramble, raspberries and chocolate box allsorts, underpinned by the savoury of smoked meats and simmering stockpot. Open fermented in the traditional old world style to deliciously dry, a salutory measure of subtle oak and kindly tannins in support of a lingering, chewy liquorice finish.

A tremendous red emanating heat from it's weight of alcohol, the very first vintage of a mostly Grenache wine by RockBare, sourced from an eighty year old bush vine, dry grown vineyard. You can't pass a duck with this wine, or a piquant chorizo sausage & homemade pasta dish.

Robin Brockett has been chief winemaker at Scotchmans Hill since the 1980s, he knows Bellarine's best growers and is completely conversant with every microclime around the greater Geelong. Amphora is the Tete de Cuvee, the top cut of Shiraz from the most superior vineyards, a cull so strict, that only a hundred cases are made. Its dulcetly sweet perfumes of peppery plum are unlocked by a measure of the fragrant Viognier, underpinned by silky chocoate tannins, lingering on a velvet length of raspberries, rose petal and turkish delight.

Layers is a melange of flavour drawn from five varietal grapes. A cepage of the three inveterate Barossa red varietals, Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre, with two traditional but exciting hispanic grapes, Tempranillo and Carignane, to construct a wine that is so much greater than the sum of parts. Don't be fooled by it's easy drinking and approachable nature, as each taste reveals another layer of subtle complexity. A great wine to complement the modern Australian lifestyle and diverse textures of contemporary east west fusion cuisines, so enjoy.

Barossa grown Shiraz and Grenache have been fashioned into a single wine ever since early settlement. The lifted aromaticness of Grenache and richness of Shiraz, bind into a marvelous accord which has defined many of the world's most enduring classics. Art & Soul is a delight with exquisite early drinkability, a Shiraz Grenache of softness and elegance, the red wine of choice to accompany gourmande sausage, steak & kidnie, or smart shepherds pie.

Just a few minutes southwest of the great estates at Vacqueyras and Chateauneuf du Pape lies Costieres de Nîmes. The Greeks planted one of France's very first vineyards here milenia ago. Julius Caesar's Egypt campaign veterans took up the viticulture some centuries later, labelling their stocks of locally made wine with the stamp of a crocodile. Today's Costieres de Nîmes makes Shiraz Grenache of such elegance and style, so akin to her famous siblings to the east, that they have been conscripted under the Origine Contrôlee of Cotes du Rhône.

The Barossa Valley was planted extensively to Grenache, Mourvedre and Shiraz by early settlers. In the 1950s Penfolds started experimenting with the blend, trials which culminated in the release of Bin 138s forebears. An answer to the growing call for the highly perfumed and fleshy Rhone style of red, Bin 138 is sourced from old, low yielding Barossa Valley sites, much of the fruit from independent growers. This is a very special Penfolds red wine indeed, one of the few that remains in component form whilst maturing in small, well seasoned oak barrels.

Those who surround themselves in the art and science of viticulture make the greatest contribution to the quality of wine. For three decades, the Paxtons have nurtured their prized McLaren Vale vineyards, some of which are over a hundred years old. It's this level of care and passion for the land that has produced remarkable wine. The quality of fruit marked for inclusion must be nothing short of exceptional. Paxton remains on skins just long enough to be blushed with a chic lipstick hue and infused with a light dose of quenching tannins.

For decades the Paxton family have nurtured their prized McLaren Vale vineyards, some are over a hundred years old. David Paxton believes that the science of viticulture is just as critical as the fine art of vinification. It's this level of care and passion for the soil that has produced extraordinary fruit and stellar wines. Harvested at the optimum ripeness for this wine style, Shiraz from five premium parcels, the Grenache from three, all fermented separately and assembled into a deep red wine of vigorous flavours and sleek, velvetine tannins.

The Partisan team are people of the soil, taking up McLaren Vale viticulture at a time in history when others were pulling out their vines to pursue more lucrative agriculture. They now take aim with each vintage, at identifying the most superior parcels of McLaren Vale fruit, to craft a range of wines which can best articulate their unique provenance and sense of place. A generously proportioned Grenache Shiraz Mouverdre, offering an exquisite length of intense blackberry fruit flavours, supported by fine grainy tannins and a measure of flattering, judicious oak.

Established 1971, Mount Mary is a single vineyard estate, one of the first to be planted during the resurgence of interest in Yarra Valley wines. John and Marli Middleton became obsessed with the great French growths after visits to Burgundy and Bordeaux. They resolved to find a very special Yarra Valley site with a view to emulating the statuesque French styles. The topical cépage of Grenache and Mourverdre, Cinsault and Shiraz, matured sixteen months in an eclectic mix of good French oak, a slightly more fruit forward, earlier drinking style of Mt Mary.

Fashioned from the pick of parcels, a collation of deep, dry farmed old vines grown to deep Blewitt Spring sands, conjoined with harvests from the balmy Biscay clays on the coast of Gulf St Vincent. Grenache plays the leading role, a dark cherry lift with a seductive mid palate, Shiraz contributes juicy mouth feel, dark fruits and earthy olive tapenade characters. Sagrantino, adds beautiful dry earth, cigar box-like savoury lift with those signature tannins giving a drying, snappy finish.

Half Shiraz with a quarter each Grenache and Mourvedre, all treated to a separate ferment and course of age before assembling into the final Cuvée. Victoria grows structured yet elegant Shiraz, the Rhonesque Mourvedre and Grenache require a sultry clime to encourage full development of piquant varietal characters, Mitchelton's plenitude of scenic lakes provide the optimal environment. An engaging mix of juicy red fruits and ripe black cherry, mocha notes and exotic spice, layers of complexity over a length of lovely silky tannins, coating the palate with peppery bramble, seamless and refined.

Ever since establishment in 1851, it has been central to Mission Estate's philosophy, that managing vineyards to holistic old world practices affords the greatest opportunity to yield truly splendid Rhône Valley styled Syrah. A great vineyard remains essential but the health of soil and sanctity of local fauna are integral to harvests of the most exquisite fruit. A beautifully redolent Syrah, perfumed of blackberry, violets and dark plum, tastefully framed by creamy wafers of toasted nutty oak, delicately seasoned by a twist of piquant white pepper and savoury sasafras curl.

Real new world Syrah, crafted to the old world style of French Trapis pioneers who founded Mission Estate in 1851. Fruit is sourced from the Bridge Pa triangle and warm inland sites, fortuitously sheltered from the prevailing sea breezes, perfect for the Syrah to ripen superbly, infusing fine aromatics and building ripe, supple tannins. A soft, fruit driven palate of superb persistence, fashioned to a medium bodied style of freshness and seamlessness, expressing fully the magnificence of Hawkes Bay Syrah, a profound depth of flavour and generous length.

De Bortoli retain some of the finest Cabernet vineyards in Yarra Valley. To make the consumate Victorian claret, parcels are assembled with a component of Syrah for suppleness and spice, while the addition of Nebbiolo contributes tannin structure and mouthfilling, old world savouryness. Resonating with fruit and filled with the weight of tiitillating pastoral complexities which will delight aspirants of truly engaging wines, match your Mimi to veal, cutlets of lamb or Bistecca alla Fiorentina.

In 1871 Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell proposed a thought experiment which involved a hypothetical creature known to physicists as Maxwell's little demon, it has stirred debate in the science community ever since. Maxwell of Mclaren Vale have built a solid reputation for hand made, rich and robust red wines that combine exquisite fruit with solid structure and finesse. Little Demon is a triple entente of Shiraz Grenache and Mourverdre, rich, round and effusive, absolutely exquisite, even in its youth.

Whilst the praiseworthy efforts of Magpie Estate are mostly earmarked for export to the UK, small amounts are reserved for devotees of bespoke Barossa reds, right here in Australia. The Schnell is an assemblage of Shiraz and Grenache from vineyards managed by some of the most respected Barossa growers. Quite a forward style of wine, showing clean, chocolate and plum Barossa fruit characters on a length of juicy, sleek tannins. Simply scrumptuous in it's youth, served alongside, whatever is your favourite faire.

Syrah is a style of wine that Lucinda does exceedingly well, a few precious parcels of the excruciatingly limited harvest are set aside for a blushing pink wine that's garrulous of a superior site and auspicious climes. No two vintages are ever the same, each year brings its own complexities, Lucinda take a view that Syrah Rosé must not only be pretty to see and moreish to taste, it should express the influence of season and resonance of soil. Pepper, currants and musk, her rakish rose hues are a reflection of succulent cherry ripeness, savoury tannin crispness and divine, pink jelly jube.

Pigeoulet is the vineyard delineation where the illustrious Vieux Telegraphe of Chateauneuf-du-Pape maintain their offices and manage the estate cellars. Le Pigeoulet acquired its own unique nomenclature in 1998, when the terroir of Caromb was incorporated into the Cotes du Rhône appellation. A further plot to the south of the village at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, on the east bank of the Rhône, is planted mainly to forty year old Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault vines, and amounts to a third of the source for the complex cépage of Le Pigeoulet.

Old Barossa growers still refer to their vineyards as the garden. Langmeil's ageing vines in the hamlets of Tanunda, Lyndoch and Vine Vale are the source of fruit for this topical mix of Shiraz, Mataro and Grenache. A wine of provenance, the traditional cepage of grapes favoured by early Barossa settlers, crafted through old world styling into a truly a luscious wine, lifted by sweet spice and gentle cherry oak oak, balanced by extra fine tannins which linger, long on a fruit filled finish.

Perrin et Fils are a big name in the winemaking industry, highly talented and driven by the pursuit of excellence, they host many of the most conspicuous marques in all France. Enter the classic Rhone Valley cepage of Grenache and Syrah with an ample component of the aboriginal Carignan and Cinsualt, fashioned to an engaging and evocative, drink now styling. Fruit is sourced from mature vineyards husbanded by local families which have been growing grapes and making wine for countless generations.

Rosé wines can trace their origins to townships not far from the recolte of Villes-sur-Auzon on the Cotes Du Ventoux. La Vieille Ferme is a cepage of roughly equal portions Cinsault and Grenache, with the inclusion of a minor component Syrah. A treat for all those who know how to appreciate pink wine, exhibiting a lovely salmon hue, radiant with floral scents and summer berry notes, before a palate that's just brimming with lusciously caramelled fruit flavours.

Overture Act 4 in the grand opus of La Boheme, in this exquisite rendition, a suave styling of mostly Syrah with the modish Beaujolais grape Gamay. The tipple of choice around your favourite metro wine bar, as amiable alongside tapas as it is with baguette and escargot. De Bortoli have made a priority of the sultry Syrah, training the most superb Yarra Valley sites to yield vintages of the new world's finest. A fine, ruby hued textural restorative, with gummy raspberry fruit aspects and light, gripping tannins, bring your Boheme to your choice of brasserie or bistrot.