The great Australian red: Cabernet Shiraz

If Australia was to wear its hat upon one wine, it would undoubtedly be the red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

Blending wine varietals is nothing new. Since the earliest of days, winemakers have strived to achieve balance through this practice; the ultimate pursuit of a wine greater than the sum of its parts.

The surprisingly short history of French appellations

In the arguable cradle of wine, France, all manner of varietals were blended together – including Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz – until they introduced the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in 1937. This appellation system was established to protect the reputation of their regions’ wines, and so determined with strict vigour which varietals could be grown in which region; Cabernet Sauvignon was mostly contained to Bordeaux, while Shiraz (named Syrah in France) was brigaded primarily with the Rhone Valley. Thus, with a few swift strokes of a pen, the once popular marriage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz was killed (in France at least). 

More reason to revere Max Schubert

Rules and regulations have mostly been kept away from Australian winemakers, allowing for the freedom to experiment with a ‘new world’ perspective. New wines have generally only been curtailed by the tastes and buying practices of consumers; and up until the mid-20th century, fortified wine was very much in vogue. 

A new era commenced in the 1950s when Max Schubert began his dry red wine trials, resulting in Penfolds Grange (which is Shiraz blended with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon), among many other off-shoots we still recognise today, such as Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz and Penfolds Bin 60A, a blend of Coonawarra Cabernet and Barossa Shiraz. 

Why so great?

Australia’s love for dry red wines was rapid and prodigious, to the point where it’s now difficult to imagine life without it. Following the Grange trials, winemakers from across the nation began producing many different dry reds, including blends and single varietals. No iteration, however, is as iconic and ‘Australian’ as Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

Principally we are renowned for the dynamic pairing thanks to our aptitude for growing each varietal. We also have numerous world-class wine regions in which we produce many varying styles. When expertly combined, the pair often fill each other’s holes and become far greater than the sum of their individual parts. Generally speaking, Shiraz is known for bringing ripe and rich fruit flavours that are framed by the structural elegance of Cabernet Sauvignon. 

There isn’t just one formula to crafting this blend either; some may be Shiraz dominant, while others may be the other way around. Sometimes the parcels of fruit are right next to each other and sometimes they aren’t even in the same state. Yet while variances are many, each release is a further exploration of a style now well and truly claimed as ‘Australian’.

We have included in this pack a brilliant representation by one the world’s greatest wineries, Wynns Coonawarra Estate. And at nine years of cellar age already, we're sure you are going to enjoy it immensely. 

Cheers and toast a glass to Australia’s greatest red; the Cabernet Shiraz. 

Discover Cabernet Blends