Shiraz (or Syrah, depending on its mood) is one of the world’s most expressive red grapes, a variety that can shift from peppery elegance to full-throttle richness with nothing more than a change in landscape. In its ancestral home of the Rhône Valley, Syrah speaks in cool, sculpted tones: black pepper, violets, smoked meat, and dark berry fruit, all wrapped in fine, sinewy tannins. Move it to warmer, sunnier ground, most famously Australia, and it transforms into Shiraz: generous, bold, and luxuriously textured, brimming with blackberry compote, plum, chocolate, and warm spice. Few grapes mirror terroir quite so vividly.

What makes Shiraz irresistible is its combination of intensity and charm. It thrives in a spectrum of climates, from the cool elegance of Victoria and the coastal finesse of South Africa to the sun-drenched opulence of Barossa and McLaren Vale. Winemakers can take it down many paths: vibrant and spicy from whole-bunch fermentation, plush and smooth from barrel ageing, or blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre for Rhône-inspired complexity. At its best, Shiraz is both powerful and poised, a wine that fills the glass with confidence, warmth, and unmistakable personality, yet still leaves room for nuance. It’s the grape that hugs you back.