The stuff of legends, who is there in Australia who has never heard of Cockfighter's Ghost? Originally crafted from Shiraz grown to a small block of ancient Hunter Valley vines, the Cockfighter's range are still made at the historic Glen Elgin wineworks, established 1895. Harvests of the finest Shiraz grapes, exhibiting vibrant spiced plum flavours and lined by juicy tannins, grown to good vineyards in McLaren Vale, have been set aside for vinification into the deeply captivating Cockfighter's Ghost.

Clonakilla were established by a Canberra research scientist in 1971, very near the New South Wales township of Murrumbateman. The soils here consist of sandy clay loams over a friable clay subsoil and, with a climate not dissimilar to Bordeaux and the northern Rhone Valley, there were high hopes for its viticultural potential. Loaded with ripe blackberry fruit pushed along by a late surge of blackcurrant and spice, the warmth of the autumn radiates through every part of this wine.

From parcels of fruit grown to choice vineyards in the premiere viticultural districts of Victoria. A style of Shiraz that is distinctly Yarra Valley, by a prominent winemaking estate, to surpass all expectations of what can be expected from a bottle without a label. Dominated by bright varietal fruit and lovely soft tannins, a medium bodied red wine with an attractive colour, alluring bouquet and mouthfilling palate. Representing excellent value, having developed complexity after a spell of ageing, its ripe and ready to enjoy today with all good faire.

The Mount Benson region has supplied fruit to many of Australia's celebrated wineries, it has also been the source of Shiraz for some of the most memorable vintages. Less than an hour's drive away lies Coonawarra, both regions share similarities but Mount Benson is cooler and the ripening season is longer. The remarkable quality of cool ripened Shiraz, inspired one of Coonawarra's pioneer winemaking families, to plant vines at Mount Benson, achieving a fragrantly spiced red of sound structure, concentrated fruit and amazing palate length.

Clare Valley Shiraz of power and controlled grace, only just tamed after the profligate indulgence of two years maturation in a high proportion of new French oak. A palate of immense weight and stately presence of dulcet, regional blueberry fruit. Best when given some air, Nirvana's expansive perfumes build in the glass, its pretty, spiced oak nose gives way to dense plum fruit, anise and currant, briars and mint. Serve well aired alongside aged beef fillet or sharp matured cheddar, Nirvana defines the august opulence of truly statuesque Clare Valley Shiraz.

A rigorous barrel cull of the most outstanding Shiraz of vintage, assembled after a stringent tally of superior blocks at Penwortham in Valley Clare. Sent to a high selection of new French oak for a term of extended age, candidate barrels are shortlisted after a year's oak maturation, returned to rest for another year before a serious sampling to determine the final cut. Full bodied, rich and intense Shiraz with powerful dark fruits and mouth filling savouryness, lifted spice intertwines with velvetine, spoon coating tannins, a generosity of fruit sweetness and opulent palate length.

This one tastes as good as it sounds, a full flavoured, elegantly structured Shiraz, hand crafted from a superior harvest of Clare Valley fruit, much of it grown to a seventy year old Terra rossa site. Despite its sobering moniker, a stylish and refined Shiraz, full bodied, voluptuous and richly proportioned, layered with Clare complexity. Dark Side will delight Shiraz enthusiasts, its fragrant perfumes and polished structure are a match to fine cuisine, caramelized foie gras or escalope de veau.

Chris Ringland lives to grow harvests of peerless quality fruit and make tiny amounts of the most memorable wine. Ringland has worked at the eminent Rockford in Barossa, as well as for distinguished estates in Spain, Italy and America. Parcels of fruit grown to vines between twenty and sixty years of age are vinified into the entry level Ebenezer Shiraz.

Chateau Reynella is the birthplace of McLaren Vale Shiraz, today it is headquarters of Australia's most eminent winemaker. The original site, established by John Reynell in 1838, was the first commercial vineyard in South Australia. It remains productive to this day, yielding fruit which is processed at the original wineworks. The most exceptional parcels available to the Hardy winemaking team, those which can best represent the Chateau Reynella style, are vinified and assembled into a rich bold Shiraz of profound intensity, exquisite balance and refined silky tannins.

Charles Melton was road tripping across Australia when his broken down EH Holden forced him to grab the first job. It was Krondorf and he wound up working with Peter Lehmann. Melton travelled to France and developed the beginnings of what would become a life long passion for the wines of vallée du Rhône, in particular Shiraz. Darkly scented plum pudding lift, fine sweet oak in support of generous mouthfilling palate, rich but exquisitely balanced, lovely complex length of flavour, all that we love about the affable, big hearted Barossa style.

The Father in Law is a single block of elite vine, originally acquired to keep Mrs Melton's dad busy after retirement. This superior parcel of Shiraz from Syd Weckert's the father in law site, is enhanced by a backbone of choice Melton fruit. Solidly structured, generously proportioned yet highly elegant, its minty, blueberry perfumes, supported by the dark chocolate and merry spice that's so eloquent of all things Barossa. Whole bunches, stemmed but uncrushed fruit, daily pumpovers and seasoned oak barriques for an extended term of twenty months on lees to infuse flavour and richness.

Charles Cimicky wineworks and vineyard run a kilometre along the picturesque Hermann Thumm Drive at Lyndoch, on the very floor of the Valley, surrounded by beautiful Barossa Ranges. Charles Cimicky, the man, is held in great esteem by his peers, for his gentle nature and exceptional quality of his wines. His eponymous is a perennial favourite of bespoke Barossa Shiraz enthusiasts, named after a group of local pioneers who would famously retreat to an old vineyard cottage for the relaxing indulgence of claret and cards.

Charles Cimicky was inspired by his father to take over the reins at the family estate, that's when the good wines started turning into awesome wines. Today, Cimicky is one of the most meticulous winemakers in South Australia. Cimicky makes cult wine with a recognizable wow factor, a tiny production and always very limited in availability. Judged first amongst peers, Charles Cimicky won the Barossa Wine Grape Council Trophy for the best wine from a small producer twice in succession, as well as the Vinpac International Trophy for Best Shiraz.

Chapel Hill is built around an historic stone church, so it's entirely appropriate that the estate's flagship wine be named The Vicar. More wine Vicar? A McLaren Vale icon which has previously claimed the prestigious Australia Trophy and twice collected Silver at the London International. The Vicar embodies true excellence, is only released in the best years and has only ever attended seven times in the history of Chapel Hill. Some vintages can be a smart assemblage of noble varietals, others might be fashioned from outstanding parcels of Shiraz.

Originally a Christian Bible church and parish school, Chapel Hill is set within a historic nineteenth century stone church. Situated on a picturesque hill in the McLaren Vale's magestic hills, views from the cellar door are breathtaking. The emphasis has long been on environmentally sustainable viticulture and vintages of the finest quality. Chapel Hill's estate grown Shiraz is endowed with an intense, opulent mouth coating palate, exhibiting a unique combination of power, elegance and grace.

Parson's Nose is intended to offer some respite from the more serious and stern religious connotations that are at times associated with Chapel Hill. McLaren Vale is deservedly recognized as one of the worlds leading Shiraz appellations. This can be attributed to the vitality and generosity of the region and its wines. Stylistically the aim with Parson's Nose is to showcase primary McLaren Vale Shiraz character as supported by a velvety tannin structure. Oak plays a supporting role and is utilised delicately, providing complexity without overriding the expression of fruit.

Parcels of intensely flavoured Shiraz grapes, grown to younger vines on the Chambers Rosewood property, are vinified and barrel aged into a generously flavoured Ruby Port. A spiced cherry, black and blueberry bouquet, complexed by sweetly scented liquorice and the savouryness of tar. Mouthfilling palate of ripe plum and cherry fruits over coffee and dark rich chocolate flavours. An impressive finish of great length and lingering dried festive cake fruit characters. The fortified wine of choice to accompany ice cream based desserts and good coffee.

The Harvey family established their first vineyard in 1897, it remains productive to this day and yields the most precious harvests of McLaren Vale fruit. Six generations later, the Harveys own and operate a total of six closely managed sites, scattered throughout the premier viticultural precincts, from Kangarilla Road to Willunga and Maslin Beach. Each site was selected over the years for its uniqueness, a confluence of soil and mesoclime to assemble complex yet seamless wines, endowed with the articulate charm and seductive appeal of McLaren Vale.

Single vineyard Syrah, from a sparse harvest of the most amazing grapes, hand picked off the dry grown, Drögemüller family orchard at Springton in the very southeast of Barossa Valley. Bunches are treated to a six tonnes, open top fermenter, for a week of skin contact and daily pumpovers, followed by a year in a selection of well seasoned French oak barrels. An intensely perfumed, Rhône valley style, redolent of peppercorn and spiced black bramble fruit, its ripe, juicy, loganberry, cherry and morello freshness, lingering on a long, licorice wick of, elegant, tensile tannins.

The ancient winegrowing hamlet of Moculta is at the very northern end of Eden Valley, where altitudes are warmest and soils are propitiously mineral rich. It's an elite little precinct with a history which dates back to Lutheran settlement. Every row of plantings here is sacred, local folklore recounts the establishment of illustrious old vineyards and stewardship by the nation's most esteemed vignerons. Chaffey source a superior harvest from the distinguished Fechner Brothers block, a transcendent parcel of Shiraz, ultimately to be treated to in an invaluable selection of new French oak from France’s oldest cooperage.

A small number of mature Shiraz blocks toward the southern parts of Barossa Valley are identified each year as potential candidates for Centenary Hill. Jacobs Creek were at the very establishment of South Australia and retain access to the nation's most distinguished, long lived vineyards. A highly prestigious Barossa effort, cellared at the Orlando wineworks, treated to the most refined oak maturation before an extravagant term of eighteen months bottle age to develop ornate, seamless complexity.

For well over a decade, Rosedale have been nurturing their splendid vineyards across the western ridge of Barossa Valley. Nine Lives exhibits power with finesse, spice fruit character and weight in unison.

The Castelli brothers are highly accomplished international engineers with a no expense spared approach to making great wine. Choice harvests from superlative vineyards at Frankland River and Mount Barker are assembled for an outstanding construct of Shiraz. Frankland River contributes rich mulberry flavours, Mt Barker adds complexity and spiced black pepper characters. An attractive earthy richness is at the core of the fine boned, textural palate, the oak is seamlessly integrated with the layers of fruit, all supported by fine, savoury tannins.