12 of the best Australian red wines to gift (or savour) in 2023
These distinctive reds show off the very best of Australian winemaking.
By Dani Maher
AUSTRALIA IS FAMOUS for a number of things: Pristine beaches and bushland, unique native flora and fauna and Margot Robbie, to name a few. We’re also rather well-respected for our red wines, widely considered to be in the top 10 countries worldwide when it comes to the stuff.
With our wide variety of wine terroirs (that’s a French term describing the complete natural environmental factors that attribute to a wine’s character, including soil, topography and climate) we have a number of fruitful wine regions renowned internationally. The Barossa Valley in South Australia, the Yarra Valley in Victoria, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, all the way to the Margaret River region in Western Australia — there’s no shortage of vineyards within each fertile landscape, each bursting with delightful wines just waiting to be discovered.
Australia may be best known for shiraz, but there’s something for every red wine drinker to enjoy, from bright pinots to sensual merlots. Below, we round up a handful of the best drops from the best Australian wineries — perfect to take to your next dinner party, to gift for a special occasion, or to keep for yourself.
Related: Best non-alcoholic wines, beers and spirits to enjoy
What is the best red wine for Christmas?
Perhaps it’s just the festive hue, but a bottle of red is the perfect accompaniment to a Christmas lunch or dinner (and it makes for a great gift, too). A great choice of wine for a Christmas meal is a pinot noir — they tend to be lighter-bodied, so the flavour will be complementary without being overpowering. Merlot is also an ideal accompaniment if you’re serving turkey or pork, while cabernet sauvignons goes well if you’re going non-traditional and serving up red meats. All of that said, if you’re keen on big flavours or you’re giving a bottle as a gift, Australia’s shiraz offerings are arguably our best wines on the market, so while bold and punchy, they certainly make for a memorable drinking experience.
Related: Best Australian white wines for summer (and every other season)
What makes a good red wine?
There’s a few different things to seek out in a good wine. A price tag isn’t always indicative of quality — you can find a great red without blowing the budget; though there are certainly more expensive wines that any serious wine drinker would tell you is worth the investment. Personal preference is also important — perhaps you’re more a fan of subtle flavours over punchier ones, or vice versa.
There are different grape varieties and blends available, and those varieties will even have their own particularities depending on where they come from. Shiraz is known for its bold flavours while pinot noirs are considered more delicate and merlots are fruitier and spicier.
Wines also range from light, to medium, to full-bodied. On the fuller end of the spectrum are wines that fill or coat the mouth more fully; while lighter wines are generally lower in strength and are less intense. Full-bodied wines have the highest tannins, which are those almost bitter, astringent flavours found in some wines.
Generally, a good wine will be well-balanced in acidity, tannin, alcohol and sweetness. The best way to find your personal “best red wine” is to try a few different varieties from different regions, and make notes of any common characteristics from your favourites.
Related: Best sparkling wines and champagnes to celebrate with
Best Australian red wines in 2023
1
PENFOLDS Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2018 Vintage
1
ROBUST SHIRAZ
PENFOLDS Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2018 Vintage
$49.99
While they’re on the expensive side, you can’t go wrong with a Penfolds — and you certainly can’t go wrong with one of their shiraz wines. Bin 28 was first made in 1959, and was named after the famous Barossa Valley Kalimna vineyard from which the wine was originally sourced. Now a multi-region, multi-vineyard blend still containing deep roots in the Barossa, Bin 28 is ripe, robust and generously flavoured — exactly what you want from a shiraz. Expect a complex range of notes — dark cherry, blackberry, mocha espresso. Enjoy now, or allow it to age beautifully up to 2038.
2
BROKENWOOD Cricket Pitch Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot
2
POPULAR BLENDED RED
BROKENWOOD Cricket Pitch Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot
$16
Aside from its Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, the Hunter Valley’s Brokenwood Wines is perhaps best known for its Cricket Pitch range. Their Cricket Pitch Red brings leafy, berry aromas to the fore, with almost two-thirds of the wine being cabernet sauvignon; while a shiraz component brings spice and plushness. Long tannins make it suitable for medium term ageing, though it does well for drinking at any time.
3
INNOCENT BYSTANDER 2017 Syrah
3
BOLD SHIRAZ
INNOCENT BYSTANDER 2017 Syrah
$22
Syrah is another name for a shiraz — and though syrahs are traditionally made in France, this one hails from the Yarra Valley. It’s perfumed, smooth and sophisticated, with aromas of black pepper, cherries, and roses; and tasting notes of cherry compote and mocha. Matured for nine months in French oak, it’s vegan friendly and suitable to drink now or cellar for up to five years.
4
LITTLE GIANT Grenache
4
MOUTH-FILLING GRENACHE
LITTLE GIANT Grenache
$24
In addition to tasting delicious, South Australian label Little Giant also supports WIRES animal rescue to support the welfare of its mascot. This Grenache is satisfyingly mouth-filling but still medium weight, with ripe fruited intensity. Notes of red and dark berry fruit are underpinned by chocolate and oak, with a lasting flavour of berries, vanilla and ground spices.
5
DR3 THE 3RD x ST HUGO Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
5
PLAYFUL AND ELEGANT CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DR3 THE 3RD x ST HUGO Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
$80
From the third collaborative wine collection between South Australian staple St Hugo and Australian F1 superstar Daniel Ricciardo comes this 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of raspberry mingle with hints of bay leaf while elegant fine tannins dance with bright red fruits and hints of oak, resulting in a delicious drop that can be enjoyed now or for years to come.
6
ST. HUGO Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
6
CABERNET SAUVIGNON PERFECT FOR AGEING
ST. HUGO Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
$45
Barossa Valley St. Hugo wines are adored the world over. This Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect one to leave to age for a few years before enjoying. When you crack it open at last, expect drying tomato leaf, peppercorn, and blackcurrants on the nose; with subtle dark fruit notes to taste and an elegant tannin structure.
7
VASSE FELIX Filius Cabernet Merlot 2020
7
JUICY, STRUCTURED CABERNET MERLOT
VASSE FELIX Filius Cabernet Merlot 2020
$28
Hailing from Margaret River in Western Australia, Vasse Felix’s strengths lie heavily in their cabernet sauvignons. Their Filius Cabernet Merlot is described as the ‘son’ of their most popular drop, combining the elegance and structure of a classic cabernet with the bright juiciness and approachability of merlot. It has an inviting perfume of red berry custard, with notes of wild berry fruit of the forest, and lingering complexities of Japanese mushroom.
8
PENFOLDS Bin 23 Pinot Noir 2018
8
DYNAMIC PINOT NOIR
PENFOLDS Bin 23 Pinot Noir 2018
$49.99
Having matured in cellar 23 at Magill Estate, Bin 23 Pinot Noir is bold and dynamic. Expect aromas of strawberry and red cherry with herb and sage notes. Medium bodied, it also has notes of anise and a mineral acidity.
9
CULLEN Cabernet Merlot
9
LUSCIOUS CABERNET MERLOT
CULLEN Cabernet Merlot
$53
Cullen, a winery based in Wilyabrup within the Margaret River region, is world famous for their Diana Madeline Cabernet Merlot — and this is a delightful offshoot. Majority cabernet sauvignon, it’s blended with merlot and a touch of petit verdot for a luscious, bright cherry and red berry flavour. Drink today, or age up to 10 years in a cellar.
10
GRANT BURGE Holy Trinity
10
FULL-BODIED GSM
GRANT BURGE Holy Trinity
$45
With a storied history and deep roots in the Barossa Valley, Grant Burge wines are as famed as they are delicious. The Holy Trinity is a blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre, made from Barossa-grown fruit and bursting with raspberry flavours and notes of white pepper and anise.
11
FARM HAND Organic Cabernet Sauvignon
11
ORGANIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON
FARM HAND Organic Cabernet Sauvignon
$15
Affordable and organic, this bottle of cabernet sauvignon hails from the heart of South Australia, where the fourth generation vignerons of the Grigoriou family focus on soil regeneration and sustainable agriculture. Vegan-friendly too, the cabernet is medium bodied and dry — a very easy drink that’ll go down a treat.
12
GHOST ROCK 2021 Supernatural Pinot Noir
12
LIVELY PINOT NOIR
GHOST ROCK 2021 Supernatural Pinot Noir
$30
Located along the beautiful coastline of Northern Tasmania, Ghost Rock Wines is beautiful to visit, if you’re ever in the area — but you can enjoy a taste of the area from afar with their 2021 Supernatural Pinot Noir. Capturing all that’s wild and untamed on the Cradle Coast, this pinot has a lively palate of texture and spice, with wild ferment and oak selections creating a rich mid palate kept fresh with natural acidity.
