Warm up this season with these Australian made winter red wines!
Are you hunting for your next great tipple? Something that embraces the colder months of Australia’s winter and pairs seamlessly with a range of winter warmers? Well, Australia is bountiful with delectable drops that are sure to soothe your soul.
When it comes to red wine, Australia is no rookie with vineyards blossoming right across the country from the Hunter Valley to Margaret River. In fact, Australia is so keen on its red wine, that it’s the world’s fifth largest exporter.
But, with so many wines to choose from, most of us stick to blind luck. Which is why we have done the hard yards and found some truly fine bottles that you can enjoy. Read on through our list of the best Australian made red wines for winter 2024.
Image via First Choice Liquor website.
Abbey Vale Shiraz
Abbey Vale Shiraz brings plenty of punch without the full-body, which is rare to find in the current Australian wine market. It is blended in the wine region of Margaret River in Western Australia, showcasing a mix of dark plums and ripe anise-like spice on the nose, with silky tannins and understated oak to complement the taste. A charming shiraz you must try in 2024!
Image via BWS website.
Cat Amongst The Pigeons Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon
Here’s something for all you wine connoisseurs who love a quirky name. Just like its name, Cat Amongst The Pigeons can cause quite the stir, but luckily with a fun and playful nature. With their Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon you can expect a full-bodied serve of dark berries and a spice-filled mix of fruity flavour – perfect for either opening straight away or storing for a couple of years. Best paired with grilled lamb cutlets, this is one of the best Australian wines to try this winter.
Image via The Wine Collective website.
De Bortoli Riorret Lusatia Park The Abbey Pinot Noir 2020
Scoring 95 points through the Halliday Wine Companion, the De Bortoli Riorret Lusatia Park The Abbey Pinot Noir 2020 should be at the top of your list to try this winter. The vineyard, located in Tarrawarra, Victoria is one of the Yarra Valley’s most premium vineyard sites. And, drinkers can expect nothing short of exceptional with this drop. Bright medium red in colour, you’ll find hints of blueberry, raspberry, game and woods on the palate.
Image via BWS website.
Elephant In The Room Palatial Pinot Noir
This wine brings with it a controversial statement: Sometimes delicate wines are boring! The Elephant In The Room Palatial Pinot Noir offers a full-on variety of plums, dark berries and a trace of the forest floor. The palate is brimming with bountiful flavours, from juicy red fruit to smoky spices – just like the region it is sourced from: Limestone Coast in South Australia.
Image via First Choice Liquor website.
Grant Burge Hillcot Merlot
If you need some more proof that complex wines are affordable, we recommend sipping on the Grant Burge Hillcot Merlot. It’s soft, supple and delicately balanced with red fruits, ripe plums and juicy cherries. The palate brings a course of charred oak and spice with a swill of inviting tannins. Although it is recommended to be cellared for up to five years, the Grant Burge Hillcot Merlot can be enjoyed now. And why wouldn’t you? It is in fact one of the top Australian made winter red wines!
Image via First Choice Liquor website.
Jacob's Creek 1847 Pinot Noir
Are you a stickler for seafood but not keen on drinking white in this cold weather? Well, the Jacob’s Creek 1847 Pinot Noir is the perfect accompaniment to fish. One of the best winter wines, Jacob’s Creek 1847 Pinot Noir from South Australia’s Barossa Valley is medium bodied with notes of black cherry that are balanced with spicy notes and supple oak. Try it with a crispy-skin salmon, cooked to perfection.
Image via First Choice Liquor website.
James Busby Cabernet Sauvignon
Spice up your next date night with the James Busby Cabernet Sauvignon. Hailing from the far-southwestern corner of Australia in Western Australia’s famed Margaret River region, this beautiful wine is ripe with redcurrant and touches of cassis and mulberry. It is rich without the overbearing punch and a stretching finish. In our opinion, it’s best served with steak.
Image via The Wine Collective website.
Pierro Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2020
Here’s another one to add your collection: the Pierro Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2020. Pierro, found in Western Australia’s Margaret River, released this graceful yet sophisticated drop. Despite being full bodied, this cabernet merlot is smooth, rich and packed with plenty of flavours for you to uncover in every sip. Think blackberry, mulberry, blackcurrant, plum and plenty of spice. A 2020 vintage, winemakers recommend cellaring this wine until 2032!
Image via BWS website.
Rolling Cabernet Merlot
Merlots are, in this day and age, one of the more full-bodied red wine varieties. And they keep getting fuller! Much like the Rolling Cabernet Merlot which doesn’t sacrifice on ingredients. It has been overloaded with dark berries, plums and herbaceous characters, and offers a smooth texture for discerning taste buds. Made in New South Wales Central Ranges, the Rolling Cabernet Merlot is best paired with spicy Thai or Vietnamese dishes. If you’re looking for a lingering taste, you’ve come to the right place.
Image via First Choice Liquor website.
St Hallett Faith Shiraz
If you’re looking for a fruit driven red wine for the cold season, St Hallett’s Faith Shiraz is one winter wine you’ll love. Hailing from the Barossa Valley, this full-bodied red wine is easily described as juicy, lively and vibrant. The love child from winemaker Andrew Brookes, Faith Shiraz by St Hallett has won the South Australian Tourism Awards for Eco-Tourism in 2021. Infused with dark berry fruits, this hearty winter wine features pepper spices and chocolate tones with a long, savoury finish. We recommend sipping this wine by a fireplace.
Looking for some other drops to try? Check out our guide to the Best Australian Made Wines for Winter 2024. And whether you’re a casual drinker or self-proclaimed sommelier, Test Your Wine Knowledge With This 10 Question Quiz.
