. .

Rhône inspiration: South Australia’s take on bold reds


Grant Burge winery vineyards.

South Australia has become a powerhouse for Rhône-style reds, with its old-vine Grenache, bold Shiraz and GSM blends capturing global acclaim. The region’s sun-drenched vineyards and diverse terroirs, from Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale to Clare Valley, offer ideal conditions for these varieties, resulting in wines that offer both depth and elegance.

While classic Rhône reds are known for their earthy complexity and restrained fruit, South Australia’s interpretations embrace ripe fruit, vibrant aromatics and silky textures. This combination of elegance and power has earned recognition at the Decanter World Wine Awards, with three wines at the 2024 competition featured in the Best in Show top 50 global selection.

Scroll down to discover DWWA 2024 awarded Rhône-style reds from South Australia

Pair these wines with hearty dishes like slow-cooked lamb, barbecued meats or mushroom risotto to highlight their rich fruit profiles and savoury complexity.

For Grenache’s lighter style, opt for Mediterranean-inspired dishes such as grilled vegetables or charcuterie. With their balance and approachability, South Australia’s Rhône-style reds continue to captivate wine lovers globally.

Whether you’re exploring refined Grenache or bold Shiraz, the award-winning wines below are a must-try for fans of expressive, full-bodied reds.

Discover even more to seek out at awards.decanter.com

Best in Show

Chaffey Bros, Evangeline Syrah, Eden Valley 2021


Best in Show, 97 points
chaffeybros.com
Prodigiously aromatic, black cherry and plum, then plunging blackberry and blackcurrant dominate the palate with oak providing extra upholstery. A haunting citrus-and-lavender perfume helps to structure the wine alongside ample, gentle tannins and curranty acidity. Stylish, with emphatic, show-stopping character. Alcohol 14.5%

Penny’s Hill, Yeenunga Grenache, McLaren Vale 2023


Best in Show, 97 points
pennyshill.com.au
Fundamentally, an exercise in grace and charm, despite its dark hue, drawing on 51-year-old bush vine fruit. Beguiling, liqueur-like cherry and strawberry on the nose, then more of those sweet, seductive fruits coax and enchant on the palate. Purring, deep-bass tannins bring a latent authority and food-friendliness, while conveying the wine’s grandeur. Alc 14%

Shingleback, Red Knot Classified GSM, McLaren Vale 2022


Best in Show, 97 points
shingleback.com.au
Grenache with 21% Shiraz and 9% Mataro (Mourvedre). A dark purple-red colour, the fragrant sweetness of its tender aromatic profile is distinctively regional. Ample weight, and the other two varieties divert the sweetness out towards something a little sterner, with a different spectrum of primary fruit. Soft tannins and rounded, sunbeam acidity. Alc 13.9%

Barossa

Calabria, Saint Petri Shiraz-Carignan 2022


Platinum, 97 points
calabriawines.com.au
Crashing waves of cranberry, pomegranate and violet perfume topped with a savoury, herbaceous energy. Finely woven tannins, bracing acidity and a luxurious grip of vanilla and cocoa spice on a smooth finale. Superb. Alc 14.4%

Grant Burge, The Holy Trinity Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre 2022


Silver, 92 points
£22.50 Whitebridge Wines
A savoury and restrained nose has elegant floral notes, then a core of plush dark fruit, flinty stone and red berry on the palate. Alc 14.5%

Henschke, Henry’s Seven 2022


Silver, 92 points
£30.99 Cambridge Wine Merchants, Carruthers & Kent, Field & Fawcett, Noble Grape, NY Wines, Philglas & Swiggot, Taurus Wines, The Wine Reserve, The Wine Yard
Red and black fruits mingle with melted liquorice and some mountain herbs on the nose, enhanced by a creamy richness on the palate. Alc 14.5%

Sons of Eden, Kennedy Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre 2022


Silver, 92 points
£24.50-£24.99 EW Wines, Majestic
Plush nose of mulberry and dried tobacco, followed on the palate by layered coconut, fruit, spice and silky tannins. Alc 14.5%

Cat Amongst the Pigeons, Grenache-Shiraz-Mataro 2022


Source : https://www.decanter.com/decanter-world-wine-awards/rhone-inspiration-south-australias-take-on-bold-reds-548988/