There's a moment in autumn when the Hunter Valley just clicks. The leaves on the vines turn gold, the mornings carry a bite, and suddenly you're reaching for something deeper in the glass. If that sounds like you right now, welcome. This is your guide to Shiraz at Peter Drayton Wines.
What makes our Shiraz lineup a little different is that we don't just make one. We make five, from a $30 weeknight red right through to museum wines with 95 points from James Halliday. Each one tells a different story about what Hunter Valley Shiraz can be.
Why Hunter Valley Shiraz Is Its Own Thing
If your frame of reference for Australian Shiraz is the big, bold, 15%-alcohol style of the Barossa or McLaren Vale, the Hunter Valley will surprise you. Our Shiraz sits at a restrained 13.5% alcohol, with an elegance and earthiness that's closer to the Northern Rhone than it is to most Australian reds. The warm days and cool nights of Pokolbin, combined with ancient volcanic soils, give our Shiraz a medium body, fine tannins, and a trademark pepperiness that no other region quite replicates.
That lighter touch is also why Hunter Shiraz ages so beautifully. But more on that shortly.
The Everyday Pour: 2023 Wildstreak Shiraz ($30)
This is the one you open on a Wednesday night without a second thought. Deep crimson in the glass, with an expressive nose of raspberries, blackberries, and spiced plum jam. On the palate it's medium-bodied with layers of dark fruits and currants, a subtle hint of pepper, and a smooth, lingering finish.
At $30 it's an honest, well-made Hunter Shiraz that doesn't try to be anything it's not. Brilliant with a slow-cooked lamb shoulder or a simple pasta with a rich ragu.
Shop the 2023 Wildstreak Shiraz →
The Premium: 2023 TJD The Individualist Shiraz ($75)
The TJD range is our top tier, small-batch wines made from old vines that have earned the right to carry the family name. This Shiraz presents a deep ruby hue with a youthful magenta rim and lifted aromas of ripe black cherries, plums, and subtle savoury spice.
On the palate it's medium-bodied and well-balanced, with bright red and dark berry flavours leading into notes of licorice and dried herbs. The oak is gently integrated, structure without overwhelming the fruit, and fine-grained tannins carry through to a long, pepper-accented finish. Approachable now, with the potential to develop over the next 8 to 10 years.
This is the bottle you bring to a dinner party or open for a birthday. Pair it with a dry-aged ribeye, slow-braised beef cheeks, or a hard aged cheese board.
Shop the 2023 TJD The Individualist Shiraz →
The Museum Collection: 2011 & 2013 Premium Release Shiraz ($55)
This is where it gets special. We hold back a small allocation of our best vintages and release them years later, once the wine has had time to show what it's really made of. Both our 2011 and 2013 scored 95 points from James Halliday and took home Gold Medals.
The 2011 is laced with layers of deep blackberry and dark plum, even hints of coal steam, at a refreshing 13.5% alcohol. Halliday called it "harmonious, graceful, concentrated, silky and downright delicious." Hard to argue with that.
The 2013 spent 18 months in French and American oak and sits at the top end of full-bodied Hunter Valley Shiraz, with black fruits, a hint of leather, and a carpet of ripe tannins. Both are drinking beautifully right now.
These are wines you sit with. Pour one after dinner, put some music on, and let it open up in the glass. A square of dark chocolate alongside doesn't hurt either.
Shop the 2011 Premium Release → | Shop the 2013 Premium Release →
Something Different: Liqueur Shiraz ($40)
Most people don't think of fortified wine when they think of Shiraz, but our Liqueur Shiraz might change that. At 18% alcohol and 375mL, this is an after-dinner wine, dark ruby and purple in the glass, with intense aromas of ripe blackberries, plums, and dark cherries layered with chocolate and spice.
The palate is full-bodied and smooth, with rich, sticky black fruit and mocha. The sweetness is balanced by soft tannins and a warming, velvety mouthfeel that lingers. Pour a small glass alongside a chocolate tart, blue cheese, or just on its own by the fire.
If you enjoy port-style wines, this one is worth a try. And at $40 it makes a great gift too.
Autumn Food Pairing Cheat Sheet
Here's a quick guide for matching our Shiraz lineup to your autumn table:
- Wildstreak Shiraz ($30): slow-cooked lamb, beef ragu, pizza at our Wildstreak Kitchen
- TJD Shiraz ($75): dry-aged steak, braised beef cheeks, aged hard cheeses
- 2011 or 2013 Museum Release ($55): duck confit, mushroom risotto, dark chocolate
- Liqueur Shiraz ($40): chocolate tart, blue cheese, roasted figs with honey
Try Them at the Cellar Door
The best way to find your favourite is to taste them side by side. We're open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, at 694 Hermitage Road in Pokolbin, just six minutes off the Hunter Expressway. Walk in or book a tasting.
If you'd rather stock the cellar at home, Wine Club members save 30% on all wines with free shipping Australia-wide. That brings the Wildstreak Shiraz down to $21 a bottle, not a bad way to get through autumn.
