A very good friend challenged Dean Hewitson to construct the traditional, full bodied Barossa Shiraz, to be drunk young at lunch or at dinner, without straying from the fundamental Hewitson philosophies of French oak, fine grained tannins, perfect balance and profound expression of fruit. The Hewitson loves a challenge and rose to the moment with a delicious, forward drinking old vines Barossa Shiraz, dressed in the finest French oak. Most definitely full bodied, yet has great balance and poise with it's signature drinkability factor.

A profoundly structured, concentrated Rhône style GSM from hand tended vineyards, at the very heart of Barossa which date back to the 1800s. The old, deep rooted Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre vines accept their fate without blinking, perfectly timing their harvest to accompany the later ripening, lower alcohol Carignan and Cinsault, a small yet important part of the Miss Harry accord. These gnarled veterans have seen every poor growing season before and will again, due to their natural affinity for Barossa Valley.

The family Hentschke have been Barossa farming since 1842, they know from good soils and settle on nothing but the finest land. Keith Hentschke chose a special site along Greenock Creek, at the intersection of Gerald Roberts and Jenke Roads, in the ancient winegrowing hamlet of Seppeltsfield to plant vines in the early 1990s. They now yield vintages of the most amazing concentration, saturated with the essence of grand Barossa Shiraz, a remarkable intensity of chewy bramble berry flavours, heady jube perfumes and soft, savoury chamois tannins.

A limited release Old Vine Shiraz, from fruit of peerless quality, picked off precious family managed sites around the ancient hamlets of Ebenezer and Tappa Pass. Barossa Valley is unique in the world of wine for its heritage of devoted growers, descended from the earliest Lutheran settlers. They are often blessed by a harvest of the most extraordinary fruit. Henschke are well positioned to take advantage and retain the best of the best, treating the finest Barossa Shiraz to a regimen of timeless and traditional, old world vinification techniques.

An essential part of the process at Heirloom is a close and uncompromising husbandry of some wonderful old vines. Respect for nature's fruits is unequivocal, each bunch of grapes is carefully sorted for excellence and health. Before the wines are made, the harvest stands on its own merit as a bounty of the most exceptional fruit. Open fermented and judiciously aged in the choice of French barriques, its profound nose of sen sen, blackbean and soy, precedes a melty chocolate palate of velvet textures and fleshy ripe plum, seasoned by twists of the pepper mill and curls of cinnamon nutmeg oak.

There's a legend about Comte Maugiron who owned the steeply terraced hills of Cote Rotie. He was blessed with two beautiful daughters, one a blonde, the other brunette. When the good Count retired he passed the two Cotes to his daughters. They are still referred to as Cote Blonde and Cote Brune. Head's Blonde comes from a single vineyard at Stonewell, a site of sandy loam mixed with quartz over limestone base, unique blonde soils, which translate into a wine of accentuated perfume and profound complexity.

Alex Head works from a short list of idiosyncratically named sites to make pure, single vineyard wines of individual character and charm. Always very limited in production and highly attractive to the most devout Shiraz aficionados, the wines of Mr Head are crafted to accomodate the vagaries of vintage and their influence on the fruit of the vine. Assembled from a barrel cull of single site batches, Red represents Mr Head's entry level Shiraz, immediately approachable and exquisitely balanced, a whole that's so much greater than the sum of parts.

A single vineyard Shiraz, vinified from hand picked fruit grown to a unique property in Valley Eden, meticulously crafted by a family managed winemaking operation at Moculta. The Hartz Barn wineworks have served the local community as a supermarket since 1885, pointedly known locally as the Henschke General Store. Originally settled by Lutherans, Moculta is the site of two ancient churches, Gruenberg and Gnadenberg. The Hartz Barn vineyard is fortuitously positioned not far from Henschke's legendary Mount Edelstone and Hill of Grace.

Haan are all about the magnificence of fruit grown to the superlative Hanenhof Vineyard. The original property was purchased in 1853 by George Friedrich Schmidt for one pound per acre. Development of the site to the most exacting standards has been the keystone of success, to which must be added the consuming pursuit of excellence. An assemblage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the mesmerising Medoc style of rich Barossa red, deeply flavoursome and powerfully driven by concentratations of fruit.

The pick of Hanenhof Vineyard Shiraz, a superior site of closely coddled vines at Tanunda on Siegersdorf Road, cropped to a scant 3½ tonnes per acre and ripened to 15° baume before harvest. Prestige is inoculated with choice strains of yeasts to enhance the eloquence of fruit and maximize depth of palate, plunged and pumped over thrice daily, as the fermenting wine is allowed to rest on skins for a week. Batches are racked into a selection of the finest French oak barriques for a course of malolactic and an extravagant two years maturation.

The nation's preeminent vintage of pure Merlot, from precious parcels of tightly packed berries, picked off fully mature vines at a magnificent old Barossa site. Treated to traditional vinification and extended term of age in an extravagant selection of French oak, Haan's black cherries and ripe plum bouquets, precede a rich, voluptuous palate, brimming with ripe fruit flavours, festive cake spice and delicate mocha oak, all supported by silky grape tannins. An august Merlot wine of great length and persistence, Prestige should be decanted three hours before service.

There are only two hectares of Merlot at Haan but they have yielded a conspicuous tally of the nation's most memorable vintages in grand Barossa Merlot. The original property along Siegersdorf Road was acquired 1853 by George Friedrich Schmidt for the cost of a pound an acre. The excellence of the harvest from this princely parcel, known to neighbouring Barossans as Hanenhof, has established a celebrity for Merlot which belies its tiny size. An edifying indigo whorl of sweet and savoury fruits, supported by cedar, while seasoned by a soupcon of sage and spearmint spice.

Originally planted during early settlement, the sandy loam soils of Haan Vineyard yield an outstanding quality of Shiraz. Fortuitously positioned along the hallowed mile of Siegersdorf Road, mid way between the ancient winegrowing hamlets of Angaston and Tanunda, the heirloom parcels once known as Hanenhof, have claimed significant trophies at the prestigious London International. A graceful style of opaque fruit characters, savoury and brooding, inebriating for its redolence of Barossa earth, mesmerising for its intricacy, dressed in a veil of refined, satin tannins.

Haan have claimed a breathtaking tally of world class accolades for such a small, boutique Barossa estate. Conspicuous trophies and medals at the prestigious London International, Australian Wine Producer of Year and Trophy for Best Blended Red. The precious pickings off graceful old plantings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, have been assembled into a stunning wine, defined by the interplay between dark blue currants, brambles and cassis, supported by the savouriness of gummy chocolate tannins, perfumed by the dainty delicacy of fragrant herbal leaf.

A boutique, hands on vineyard winery which has won an enviable amount of praise from the most prestigious international reviewers, perennially feted by the illustrious Wine Advocate as one of Australia's greatest values in wine. A traditionally crafted, small batch Cabernet Merlot Shiraz, assembled from parcels of Barossa fruit that have been earmarked on the basis of opulence and fine tannins, treated to the most adroit vinification techniques. Arrives fully labelled and guaranteed to please, without any delivery fee to every destination in Australia.

Marschall Groom is the culmination of many years accumulated experience in the construct of Australia's most memorable vintages. The dream became reality following acquistion of a barren property in the Kalimna appellation of Barossa, directly adjacent Penfolds Kalimna Vineyard, home of the mighty Grange. Showing less oak than is typical of Australian Shiraz, Groom succeeds in being rich without any overt jammy or tannic qualities. Nose and palate exhibit good spice, anise and berry flavours, a firm, fleshy structure and fine textures.

A boutique, hands on operation on Roennfeldt Road, amidst the rolling hills of Seppeltsfield between the hamlets of Greenock and Marananga at the western end of Barossa. The vineyard is small and its meagre yields are further limited by a fastidious pruning throughout the growing season, followed by a meticulous sorting of grapes at vintage. Alice is fashioned to the traditional, old world style of Barossa Shiraz, laden with brooding black bramble fruit and soily, bucolic charm, seasoned by an evolving complexity of piquant Rhone spice.

Grapes are sourced from exceptional Barossa vineyards which Grant Burge sanctions as worthy of his estate flagship, hand picked parcels exhibiting a rare intensity of character, structure and finesse. A solid backbone of Cabernet grown to Burge's own Corryton Park property in Eden Valley, flows seamlessly with the pick of fruit grown to superior vineyards lower down the Barossa hills, all characterized by their concentration of rich flavours. A Barossa Cabernet of rare virtue, to be decanted before service and treated to the alchemy of a judicious breathing.

Miamba Vineyard boasts a long viticultural history, but when Grant Burge acquired it in 1983 it was completely bare. A deliberate replanting and sustainable land management has returned the block to its former glory. The fruit here shows exceptional varietal character, great concentration and intense flavours. The oak treatment has evolved over the years, fermentation and ageing are completed in a greater proportion of quality oak, contributing to Miamba's refined style and impressive structure. Enjoy with dinner alongside beef and red wine jus.

An estate flagship wine and a blockbuster Shiraz, bunches of parched, dry grown grapes are hand picked from the elite Filsell Vineyard, smaller parcels are also sourced from even older Barossa vines, which introduces an amazing depth of character and complexity. This stunning wine is Barossa Shiraz at its best, concentrated, big and bold.

Meshach William Burge 1843-1942, was Grant's great grandfather, a central figure in establishing the Burge vineyards and estate. He was eleven years of age when his family moved from Wiltshire to the Barossa, where he toiled to develop what has grown into a thriving viticultural, wheat and sheep property near Lyndoch. Grant has selected his finest Shiraz to bear the Meshach name. Since inaugural vintage in 1988, Meshach has won several of the nation's most significant trophies and medals, generally regarded as one of Australia's first growths.

Grant Burge holds great reverence for the outstanding quality of Barossa Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre old vines fruit. He is inspired by the way they can coalesce into a wine that's so much greater than the sum of parts. Holy Trinity is modelled on the efforts of the southern Rhone, a style which early settlers recognized would excel in the idyllic climes and terroirs of Barossa Valley. An artisinally crafted wine, from grapes hand picked off old, dry grown vines, the youngest being some fifty years of age, the oldest is well over a hundred and twenty.

When Grant Burge released his first pure varietal Merlot, there were only two other such wines in Australia. Burge is a pioneer of Barossa Merlot, planting the first exclusively Merlot vineyard at Hillcot in 1980. The fully mature vines can now yield grapes with intensely concentrated flavours, displaying the charm and characteristic softness expected of truly fine Merlot. Often called upon to soften the palate of more tannic varietals, pure Merlot makes a natural match to lamb and potato recipes.

With a booty of twenty gold medals to date, Grant Burge's Filsell vineyard, bearing century old vines, is considered one of the finest in Barossa Valley, consistently yielding fruit of great intensity and concentration.

Planted in the early 1920s, the distinguished Filsell Vineyard is the source of fruit for Grant Burge's flagship, the highly exalted Meshach. Filsell Shiraz is affectionately known to loyal followers as the flagship Meshach Shiraz younger brother.

Grant Burge has acquired a profound and intuitive understanding of the environment, he harbours the greatest respect for nature, he is a Baron of the Barossa and personally oversees all aspects of production, from the early season maintenance of the land right through to vintage and bottling. One of the great, distinguished sites of Barossa Valley, Burge's eminent Filsell Vineyard produces the most compelling wines. A regal Barossa Shiraz of understated elegance, effortless grace and just a little touch of magic.

Vinified from parcels of elite Cabernet grapes grown to Grant's Cameron Vale vineyard, planted in the early 1970s, along a fertile area between Lyndoch and Williamstown. A solid backbone of estate grown fruit is enhanced by a further component of splendid Cabernet Sauvignon from the cooler, slow ripening altitudes of Valley Eden. The maturity of site and devotion of the Grant Burge team to their precious vines make a major contribution, clearly evident in the intensity, seamless integration and controlled power of the finished wine.

The sacred Aussie accord between Shiraz, Cabernet and the Barossa. All Grant Burge red wines are vinified at the illustrious Illaparra wineworks, proudly displaying their Barossa provenance on every bottle as an assurance of integrity. All Grant Burge vines are spoiled with attention, pruned, cropped and encouraged to achieve maximum development of varietal characters in the fruit, the magic grail of good flavour, judicious acids and ripe, supportive tannins.

A sultry wine with indulgent layers of complexity, Barossa Vines GMS combines 50% Grenache, 33% Mourvedre and 17% Shiraz, from fruit grown on Grant's own vineyards and those of respected growers around the Barossa.

A third each of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre, crafted from small parcels of intensely flavoured, hand picked grapes, grown to some seriously old Barossa vines. The backbone for this engaging accord is sourced off a canon of distinguished, dry grown Barossa parcels, generally a hundred years of age. The maturity of these gnarled old plantings translates into meagre yields of the most tremendous concentration and sublime elegance.

A wine of pure Barossa fruit by a master who loves Shiraz and is devoted to the valley he calls home. Grant Burge has been awarded every major trophy and medal in Australia, including the Montgomery, Stodart, Brisbane Club and Jimmy Watson. His vines are spoiled with attention, pruned, cropped and encouraged to achieve maximum development of varietal characters in the berries, the magic grail of good flavour, judicious acids and ripe tannins. The holy trinity of Grant Burge, Barossa and Shiraz.

As the largest independent grower in Barossa Valley, Grant Burge has access to substantial harvests of the finest fruit, combined with the estate's economy of scale to deliver a superior quality of wine at every pricepoint. Parcels of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are collated from Grant's very own vineyards, as well as sites owned and operated by distinguished Barossa growers. A wine of refinement and structure, a great match to a wide range of cuisine, beef ragu, barbequed meats and comforting tomato pasta recipes.

In 2000, a group of enthusiasts who shared a passion for making and imbibing in wine were inspired to breathe life into an old, run down operation in the small western district of Gomersal. The forty two acres of low yielding vines now deliver a limited yield of Shiraz each vintage, a precious harvest of grapes exhibiting remarkable concentration and intensity of flavour. Working amongst the vines and sampling berries as the growing season reaches climax, picking never commences until the team are completely satisfied that complete ripeness has been achieved.

Glen Eldon are blessed by an inventory of splendid vineyards scattered throughout the principal viticultural precincts of Barossa Valley and Eden Ranges. Sites in Tanunda and Mt McKenzie, Springton and Mt Pleasant indulge the winemaking team with an opportunity to assemble those parcels which can best coalesce into a keen and approachable, contemporarily styled Cabernet Shiraz with good fruit, smooth tannins and gentle background oak. True to it's moniker, a warming drop to kick back and relax alongside nibbles, good company and tall yarns.

Prior to launching Glen Eldon, Richard Sheedy consolidated on his experience as winemaker by taking charge at two world class purveyors of Barossa Shiraz, the equally eminent houses of Elderton and St Hallett. Sheedy knows from Barossa Shiraz, his estate vineyard at Tanunda on the Valley floor was selected for its mesoclime and distinctive flavours imparted to the wine. An alchemy of soil and rainfall, row facing and pruning, combined with attention to detail in vineyard management yields small yet concentrated bunches of vibrant Shiraz grapes.

Wallace is the ancestral name of Colin Gaetzer's wife, whose family hail from the old market town of Cupar in Fife. Judith's Celtic ancestry is reflected in the three elements of the Wallace label, a thistle, the cross and the arcane Celtic knot. Wallace takes on the traditional Barossa mix of Shiraz and Grenache in a thoroughly modern way. Few winemakers understand old vines fruit as well as Barons of the Barossa Ben and Colin Glaetzer, as they fashion Wallace into a comforting and indulgent mix of old world charm, dark forest fruits, cigarbox and spice.

Only ever made in the finest vintage years, the backbone of this substantive Shiraz is exceptional old vine fruit from a qabal of famed, gnarled and dry grown Barossa vineyards at Ebenezer. Bishop is assembled from components which are up front and generous, showing animated, youthful characters, as opposed to the more restrained and structured components of the sibling Glaetzers. These old veterans are young at heart, a coterie of old, very old and ancient blocks, up to a hundred and thirty years of age, are called upon to make a contribution towards the Bishop.

Glaetzer Shiraz is the flagship wine, rich with intensity and the Glaetzer hallmarks of complexity and elegance.