2019 Penfolds Grange

South Australia's wine regions have been at the forefront of the rise of Down Under wine and have carved their way to the top of the world with finesse and defining Shiraz wines. Fruit-intensive, concentrated, powerful red wine and delicate, juicy white wine from Adelaide and the surrounding area - these make up about 50% of Australia's wines. Welcome to the Australian Wine State.

South Australia's wine-growing region extends from the Limestone Coast in the south to the far north. The landscape is characterized by green plains, bushy ridges and surreal inland foothills, where cultivation is only marginally possible. The climate is warm and very dry in summer, cooler and wetter in winter. Note that the grape harvest in South Australia takes place from February to April, the early Australian autumn. The high temperatures allow the grapes to ripen perfectly and in some cases lose their acidity.

The Barossa Valley is one of Australia's most famous and largest wine regions, located in South Australia. Due to the Mediterranean climate and the fertile soil, different types of good quality wines are produced in this region, but Coonawarra is also such a beautiful area. Even cooler than Bordeaux and a great area for elegant New World Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

South Australia can be divided into the following regions

Adelaide Hills
Barossa Valley
Clare Valley
Eyre Peninsula
Fleurieu Peninsula
Flinders Ranges
limestone coast
Nullarbor plain
Riverland
Yorke Peninsula

Grape varieties in South Australia
The number 1 grape variety is undoubtedly the "native" Shiraz grape, which is vinified in all forms. In addition, there are vineyards with the following varieties:

Red grape varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon
Garnacha (Grenache)
Merlot
Mouvedre
Sangiovese
Monastery

White grape varieties
Chardonnay
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Viognier
Rousanne
Marsanne
Colombard
GSM - Grenache, Shiraz, Mouvèdre - a cuvée made from these grape varieties is the essence of a perfect combination. Harmony is the strength of the GSM composition. Appearing for the first time in the southern Rhone Valley, the GSM wines are a flagship for wines from the Barossa Valley and Fleurieu.

The main appellations are:

Adelaide
Barossa
Limestone Coastal Zone - Coonawarra, Padthaway and Wrattonbully
Fleurieu
Mount Lofty
Far North zone
limestone coast zone

Australia is a new wine country, compared to Europe, known for its innovative inspiring wine producers. About 60% of the wine produced and exported here has a wonderfully fruity and distinctive flavor. While most of Australia is too hot for good wine-growing land, most and largest wine regions can be found in the South of Australia. The warm climate in Australia does have an advantage, for example, the grapes used to produce wines can ripen well, resulting in a wonderfully soft and generous wine. Most grape varieties used here are the French grape varieties. For example, for a white wine the Chardonnay grape is very popular.

The winegrowers from Australia do not have to adhere to certain grape usage. They can choose which grapes they grow and with which techniques they do this. Therefore, the origin of the wine or the region where the wine is grown is not the most important, but in Australia, if you want to produce a good wine, it is important to pick the grapes on time.

The wines produced in Australia often come from the wine regions, Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. About 25% of Australia's wine production is produced in New South Wales. This area has 16,000 hectares of wine, which is very little compared to the total 110,623 hectares of wine-growing land across Australia. Nevertheless, the first export wines come from this wine region and the first vine was placed in New South Wales. The main grape variety that is used to make a lot of red wine from Australia is the Shiraz. This wine with its own identity is characterized by the ripe fruit that is used for this. The main wine region in Australia is South Australia. About half of all wines come from Australia. In this area it is possible to produce many different types of wine, this is because there are many microclimates in South Australia. In the most productive wine region of Australia, Riverland, affordable wines are often produced that get a certain taste through the addition of wood chips and are sold very well. At grandcruwijnen.nl we have a number of very famous austrian wineries such as Penfolds, Moss Wood and Castagna Vineyard.

Red wine is made from blue grapes. The wines get their dark colour from the skin of the grape, which ferments with the grape juice. The intensity of the colour is determined by how long the juice has matured; a young red wine will have a somewhat purple colour, while older wines tend to be more orange or brown-red.

With around 10,000 varieties of grapes worldwide, you can go in all directions.

The most well-known blue grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Syrah / Shiraz.

Types of red wine

There are many different types of grapes with different characteristics and aromas. The differences within grape varieties are due to the difference in climate, the soil where the vines are planted, and the amount of sun.

The end result is in the hands of the winemaker. During the process from juice to wine, the winemaker still has a lot of options to change the final product into what he wants to put on the market.

The upbringing of the wine plays a major role in this. After fermentation, the process of raising and maturing the wine begins. There are many options for influencing the wine, but the most well-known concerns the ageing in wood.

If the winemaker chooses to raise the wine on wood, many things come into play. The first choice is whether new or older barrels will be used. Older, used barrels release less or no more aromas and tannins, but they still have an oxidative function. New wood barrels let in dosed oxygen and ensure that the wine has aromas and tannins. This is more intense with smaller barrels than with large wooden barrels.

Dry red wine

The most famous red wine is a dry red wine. The number of grape varieties and different taste profiles are enormous. There is a nice glass of red for every moment.

Sweet red wine

Just like sweet white wine, there is sweet red wine too! They are a lot rarer than dry red wines. If you want to try something different, it's definitely worth a try.

Alcohol-free red wine

Non-alcoholic wine is becoming more and more popular. Whether it is red non-alcoholic wine, white non-alcoholic wine, or sparkling non-alcoholic wine, more and more attention is being paid to it. Perfect for a cosy drink during pregnancy, or during a non-alcoholic month!

Red wine Gift

Red wine is fun to give, and even more fun to receive! Grandcruwijnen has ready-made wine gifts to make your gift recipient happy ;)

If you have your eye on a bottle of wine, at Grandcruwijnen we also have gift packaging to complete your gift! If you've found something you like, you can easily add a gift card during checkout.

Buy red wine online

At Grandcruwijnen you can easily buy red wine online. In our range, you will find products from the well-known grape varieties. If you want to buy a nice red wine, you have come to the right place at Grandcruwijnen. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us!

Cabernet Sauvignon is a red grape variety. The Cabernet Sauvignon is a very well-known grape and gives a full flavour and a dark colour. The ripening process is very important.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most recognized grape varieties for red wine. The grapes are grown in almost every major wine-producing country in a wide spectrum of climates, from Australia, Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, to even China. 

Although the grapes are grown worldwide, most Cabernet Sauvignon grapes come from France, Chile, Australia and South Africa.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape ripens late, which is why it thrives best in warm climates. In Bordeaux it is just fine, especially in the relatively warm Entre-Deux Mer and on the dry gravel soils of Médoc and Graves. 

What does a Cabernet Sauvignon wine taste like?

The Cabernet Sauvignon is the most well-behaved boy in the vineyard. He rarely abandons his owner. A Cabernet Sauvignon always gives scents and flavors of blackcurrant and spicy aromas. The difference of which aromas emerge is decided during the maturation process. If a Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in small wooden barrels, then more aromas of coffee, spices and toast will come to the fore.

What temperature should you drink Cabernet Sauvignon?

Over the occasion, a red wine should be drunk at a temperature slightly cooler than room temperature. A Cabernet Sauvignon's ideal serving temperature is 16°C, but the aromas of the wine will come out well between 15 and 18°C. 

Syrah, also called Shiraz, is a dark-skinned red wine grape variety known for producing bold, full-bodied wines with intense flavors. Here's what you need to know about this grape:

Origin

Syrah's origins date back to the Rhône Valley in France, especially in regions such as Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie. It is one of the most important grapes in the renowned wines of the Northern Rhône. The exact origins of the grape are still debated, but it is believed to have ancient roots in the Middle East. However, genetic research shows that the grape originates from two grape varieties from southeastern France - Dureza and Mondeuse blanche

The taste of Syrah

The wines are known for their rich, dark fruit flavors such as blackberry, black cherry and plum. They often have notes of black pepper, smoked meat, violet and sometimes earthy undertones. The flavor profile can vary depending on factors such as climate, soil and winemaking techniques. In cooler climates this grape produces wines with more pepper and floral notes while in warmer climates it produces richer and fruitier notes, sometimes with coffee and chocolate notes. It pairs well with grilled meat, especially lamb and beef, in dishes such as stews or on the barbecue. It also goes well with cheeses such as aged cheddar or blue cheese.

Characteristics of Syrah

Syrah is known for its adaptability to various soil types and climates, making it a sustainable choice for vineyard cultivation. Additionally, many wine producers are adopting sustainable and organic practices in both vineyard management and winemaking.

Many Syrah wines have excellent aging potential, particularly those from the Northern Rhône. With proper cellaring, they can develop more complexity and soften over time, while retaining their fruitiness and structure.