Wine 101
Volume 34

This is Australia’s highest profile wine grape, and arguably its best red wine. The grape is believed to have come to Australia first from its home, Hermitage in the Rhone Valley area of France many years ago.
Some believe that due to extensive re-planting in France due to Phylloxera, Australia’s older vineyards are more like Hermitage used to be, than that region is today. Some vineyards of South Eastern Australia date back over 100 years unchanged (and small amounts of wine are still made from these old grapes.)
What is not in doubt however is that Shiraz, called Syrah in France, is the best and best known red wine of Australia. It is the most widely grown red grape variety, grown in almost all regions, and makes the most recognized Australian wines in the world market such as Grange and Grant Burge. In addition it is used in blends with many other grapes, as well as being used extensively in the Fortified wines of Australia, most notably their Vintage Port styles.
Through all of this and in almost every climate, Shiraz makes quality wine. It rarely needs or receives the same volume of new oak as Cabernet, it can be delicious and fruity when young, but can mellow with up to 15 or 20 years in the cellar and become very high-quality wine showing earthy, velvety, almost sweet fruit characters.
The aromas and flavors of Shiraz vary with wine style and region, but are usually blackberry, plums, and pepper in varying degrees dependent on growing conditions. In addition, even more regionally based, we can find licorice, tar, and even bitter chocolate and mocha. Climate affects these with the warmer climates providing the plums and chocolate (Barossa) and the cooler climates giving more of the pepper (Victoria).
Below is a list of some of the Australian regions producing quality Shiraz wines and a few labels to watch out for from those regions. There are hundreds of producers in Australia and will be many quality wineries that I have missed.  This small list is a guide to get you started.
 
Cool Climate

Victoria
Mt Langi Ghiran
Seppelt Great Western
Bests Great Western
Western Australia
Pillar Box
Vasse Felix
 
Warm Climate

Barossa Valley
Grant Burge
St Hallett Old Block
Charles Melton
Elderton
Grange
McLaren Vale
d’Arenberg
Coriole
Seaview
Woodstock
Clare
Leasingham
Wendouree
Tim Adams
Coonawarra
Wynns
Nick Faldo
Zema Estate
Leconfield
Hunter Valley
De Bortoli
Tyrrells
Marquis Phillips