2022 Adelaide Hills Shiraz, Shaw + Smith

• Style: Cool-climate, mineral-edged Shiraz
• Taste: Red and blue stone fruits, white pepper spice, taut acidity
• Food: BBQ & grilled meats; aged cheese; lamb; sausages
• Occasion: Sunday lunch; date night; relaxed entertaining
• Serve: Bone dry, 13.5% ABV; serve cool

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

This is cool-climate Shiraz as it should be: alive and mineral-edged rather than heavy. The 2022 vintage captures red and blue stone fruits lifted by white pepper spice, with a taut acidity that keeps everything tense and fresh. Whole-fermented in open tanks, then aged 10 months in French oak (20% new), the wine emerges structured without being drowning in oak. At 13.5% alcohol, it drinks lighter and more poised than many Australian reds — genuinely food-friendly rather than a fruit bomb.

The Winery — Shaw + Smith

Cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW founded their partnership in 1989, choosing to make exclusively from Adelaide Hills. Martin trained at the University of Bordeaux, while Michael became the first Australian to earn Master of Wine credentials in 1988. Today, under chief winemaker Adam Wadewitz, their philosophy is clear: craft the wine in the vineyard first, then let the winery listen. The 2022 vintage benefited from cool La Niña spring conditions that kept yields low across their three estates in Balhannah, Lenswood and Piccadilly Valley, with mild, dry summer weather and perfectly even ripening in February delivering both intensity and the bright acidity you taste now.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Grilled beef, barbecued chicken, and aged hard cheeses are natural partners — this wine's grip on the palate cuts through richness and char beautifully. It's equally at home with lamb, sausages, and anything bearing a savoury crust. The mineral edge and lifted acidity make it perfect for Sunday lunch or date night entertaining, where it won't overshadow conversation or demand constant attention. Whether you're exploring our Adelaide Hills selection, browsing our Syrah & Shiraz range, or discovering what Australia offers beyond the usual suspects, this vegan and organic-friendly wine represents refined winemaking at its most approachable.