- Two Hands, “Bella’s Garden”, Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia, 2006
$110 - Marquis Philips, “9”, Shiraz, South Eastern, Australia, 2007 $74
- Trinity Hill, Pinot Noir, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, 2007 $61
- Jim Barry, “Lodge Hill”, Shiraz, Clare Valley, Australia, 2006 $43
- Marquis Philips, Cabernet Sauvignon, South Eastern Australia, 2008 $35
- Earthworks Shiraz, Barossa, Australia, 2008 $34
- Rosemount, Shiraz, South Eastern Australia, 2008 $25
About Shiraz
The Syrah grape was introduced into Australia in 1832 by James Busby, an immigrant who brought vine clippings from Europe with him, and it is almost invariably called Shiraz. Today it is Australia's most popular red grape, but has not always been in such favor; in the 1970s, white wine was so popular that growers were ripping out unprofitable Shiraz and Grenache vineyards, even those with very old vines. Many factors, including the success of brands like Lindemans and Jacob's Creek in the UK, as well as Rosemount in the US and UK, were responsible for a dramatic expansion of plantings during the 1980s and 1990s; a similar trajectory occurred in California. However, the biggest factor in this expansion during the 1990s was a federal government tax subsidy to those planting new vineyards. Shiraz is the most planted variety in Australia, which has the world's second largest plantations of Syrah/Shiraz, after France.
