10 Best Wines in Australia for Refined Tastes | Best of Lifestyle 2023

When we’re talking about wine, it comes as no surprise that Australia truly has something for everyone. Its extensive national wine list includes elegant Chardonnays, silky Pinot Noirs, patrician Cabernet Sauvignons, and even zesty Sauvignon Blanc. With its diverse climates that support a wide range of grape varieties, world-class vineyard management, and ideal soil types for viticulture, it’s no wonder why Australia is one of the leading wine producers. With an extensive variety of wines, which then is the best wine in Australia? In our Best of Lifestyle series, we introduce the 10 Best Wines in Australia, providing quality recommendations based on your lifestyle and budget needs.

This post was last updated on 05 January 2023.

Best Wines in Australia

1. Wolf Blass Red Label Shiraz Cabernet Red Wine

Fruit-driven and rich in flavor

The Red Label, with a track record of dependability and quality, is at the forefront of Wolf Blass’ quest for global power. Wolf Blass Red Label wines offer fruit-driven flavors, soft, approachable palates, and excellent value for all types of entertainment occasions. They guarantee consistent quality and exceptional value Australian wine that is bursting with flavor and character. This classic Australian blend of shiraz and cabernet sauvignon produces a smooth medium-bodied red with bright, juicy fruit.

Wolf Blass Red Label Shiraz Cabernet Red Wine has soft, plush berry flavors that are balanced by the structure and length of the cabernet sauvignon. Moreover, this wine’s varietal leafiness gives it an additional dimension, and its soft, lingering finish makes it suitable for a drink-now style.

Why buy this:

• Medium-bodied, fruit-driven wine
• Rich in red berry flavors, with a soft, plush palate
• The finish is long, fresh, and juicy with smooth cabernet tannins
• Great with Moroccan lamb tagine

2. Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2018 Wine

The perfect balance of the cabernet and shiraz

The Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2018, also known as “Baby Grange,” is sourced from the same vineyards and aged in the same barrels as Australia’s most celebrated wine. First produced in 1960 by the renowned Max Schubert, this wine helped establish Penfolds’ reputation among red wine drinkers by combining the structure of cabernet sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz. The palate is silky and plush, with a wealth of rich and intense dark-plum, dark-berry, and blackcurrant flavors. Meanwhile, the oak has been thoroughly immersed with ripe, fresh fruit. Bin 389 exemplifies the judicious balance of fruit and oak, highlighting the generous mid-palate Penfolds is known for.

Why buy this:

• Perfect balance of the sweet cabernet and savory shiraz
• Lifted and fragrant nose
• Possesses what now has been referred to as a black forest cake 2018 vintage flavor profile
• Silky and plush texture of palate

3. Pepperjack Malbec Wine

100% savory Malbec grapes

Pepperjack creates wines that are synonymous with the regions they come from by combining an eye for modern styles with traditional winemaking techniques. The Pepperjack Malbec is a deep dense black wine with a red hue and aromas of spice, ripe blueberries, violets, and mocha oak. It has a rich, round, and textural palate, which displays fresh red cherry and cranberry fruits with savory chalky tannins that provide length and finesse. Furthermore, the winemaker, Richard Mattner, travelled to Mendoza, Argentina, to source the grapes, ensuring that the Pepperjack style and quality were not compromised.

Why buy this:

• 100% Malbec grapes
• Great aromatic intensity
• Smooth and unique taste
• Distinctive and powerful

4. 19 Crimes Shiraz Wine

Bold and subtly sweet palate

The story behind the name of this medium-bodied, deep red Australian blend is as captivating as the wine itself. Interestingly, each bottle features a mug shot of a real historical convict, along with one of the 19 Crimes inscribed beneath the screwcap. The 19 Crimes Shiraz has a rich, round taste and is bold and smooth on the palate with a subtle sweetness. This wine features vanilla aromas that complement the subtle flavors of raspberries, dark plums, and chocolate on the palate. In addition, the rich tannins and red berry fruit-filled palate provide a lingering finish, leaving you wanting more.

Why buy this:

• Criminally intense vanilla aromatics are balanced with ripe raspberry and plum fruits
• Full and round bright-red wine with crimson hues that give way to subtle sweetness on the palate
• Plush tannins provide a lingering finish
• Best paired with chargrilled steak or BBQ beef

5. Flowerpot Organic Sauvignon Blanc Wine

100% organic sauvignon blanc

Flowerpot made it a priority to focus on quality rather than quantity, and every viticultural action was performed to perfect the style of their wines. Their organic Sauvignon Blanc is a deliciously punchy wine with hints of vibrant grapefruit and lime, which demonstrates their winemaking expertise. Its palate features bright citrus and herbal characters, with a refreshing passionfruit and pineapple finish. When it comes to pairing, this wine tastes well with white meat, fish, seafood, or salads.

Why buy this:

• Fresh notes of lime and lemon, with hints of ripe pineapple and dried herbs
• Palate features bright citrus and herbal characters; vibrant acidity, with a refreshing passionfruit and pineapple finish
• Best paired with fish, seafood, or salads

6. Taylor’s Estate Shiraz Wine

Award-winning fine wine in Australia

Look no further than Taylor’s Estate Shiraz from South Australia if you’re looking for a delicious shiraz to add to your collection. This wine goes well with a variety of foods, making it ideal for any occasion. It has a seductive, lifted aroma of plum, blackcurrant, and dark cherry fruits, along with subtle chocolate and a hint of oak-derived spice. The palate is plump and generous, with ripe plum and blackberry fruit characters. It also has fruit flavors balanced by mocha coffee and subtle spice from oak maturation. Furthermore, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with a fleshy mid-palate and supple tannin structure. It’s a well-balanced wine with great texture, length, and fruit on the finish.

Why buy this:

• One of Australia’s favorite Shiraz wines
• Winner of 13 Gold Medals including Global Syrah Masters, Sydney International Wine Competition, Concourse Mondial de Bruxelles, New Zealand International Wine Show
• Soft, rich, and juicy shiraz wine
• Palate is plump and generous with ripe fruit characters of plum, mocha, coffee and blackberry
• Lifted aromas characterized by plum, blackcurrant and dark cherry fruits

7. Secret Stone Marlborough Pinot Gris Wine

Fruity aroma

The Marlborough region is ideal for growing white wine grapes, and Secret Stone Marlborough Pinot Gris is a great example. This wine displays the aromas of fresh sliced pears and hints of spice and citrus. It has a medium-bodied palate with flavors of orange, lemon, and tropical fruits, and it finishes elegantly, quenching the drinker’s thirst. It goes well with spicy foods like Thai and can be enjoyed chilled on a summer evening.

Why buy this:

• Sourced from the breathtaking vineyards in Marlborough
• Displays aromas of freshly sliced pears and hints of spice and citrus 
• Best paired with spicy food such as Thai
• A cool tank fermentation is followed using an aromatic yeast

8. Seppelt The Great Entertainer Chardonnay Pinot Noir Wine

Refreshing citrus-flavored sparkling wine

The Seppelt The Great Entertainer Chardonnay Pinot Noir is a sparkling wine with a zesty, lemony fizz, and hints of fresh strawberry. This wine is named after the great entertainer Dame Nellie Melba, whose voice delighted opera audiences throughout the 20th century. The Great Entertainer Chardonnay Pinot Noir is perfect for those looking to find good complexity and vibrancy at a reasonable price. It features citrus fruit notes and a soft creaminess on the palate. Moreover, there’s crispness, a full mousse, mid-palate weight, and just the right amount of dryness on the finish.

Why buy this:

• Lifted citrus aromas with underlying notes of strawberry on the nose
• Dry wine sweetness
• Best paired with seafood and spicy food
• Great wine for any occasion

9. Hardys VR Merlot Wine

Light and medium-bodied red wine

The Hardys VR Merlot is made from carefully selected parcels from South Eastern Australia. This Australian wine is a soft, medium-bodied red wine with intense flavors of ripe plum, dark cherry, and black currant. The Merlot grape is all about being delightfully soft and juicy, with lovely plum flavors and a hint of spice. Furthermore, the fruit flavors are balanced by complex vanilla, stewed rhubarb flavors, and other spicy oak notes. This wine also has a silky tannin structure that complements the fleshy ripe fruit finish with lingering plum and cherry flavors.

Why buy this:

• Soft balanced acid
• Silky tannins with lingering fruit and toasty oak finish
• Fruit aromas of plum and cherry with dried herbs and subtle vanilla oak

10. Wynns Coonawarra Shiraz Wine

Elegant and silky with generous mulberry notes

Since 1952, this wine has helped Wynns Coonawarra Estate maintain its reputation as a premium Coonawarra Shiraz producer. The Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz has aromas of ground black pepper, berry, and distinct floral notes. Additionally, delicate oak is used to match and support the fine palate structure, allowing the ripe tannins to round out the picture without dominating its cool climate character. Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz is a medium-bodied wine with a lingering finish that will age gracefully. It is a beautifully balanced wine that is ready to drink now or cellar for a few years.

Why buy this:

• Elegant and silky, with generous mulberry notes
• Distinctive white floral notes lift the aromas up and speak of the classically aromatic Coonawarra style
• Best paired with smoky grilled meats and veggies
• Medium-term cellaring (up to 7 years)

We hope that our guide on the 10 Best Wines in Australia has helped you to choose the best wine in Australia. Please share this with your family and friends if you have found it useful.

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