As winter settles in, there's no better way to embrace the season than by cosying up next to a crackling fire with a glass of Hunter Valley red wine. Known for producing some of Australia's finest red wines, the Hunter Valley offers the perfect selections for those intimate winter evenings. Here's a curated list of the best Hunter Valley red wines that promise to warm your heart and enhance your fireside experience.
Boydell's Shiraz
Hollydene 2019 Shiraz Tempranillo
Bright crimson red in colour, this medium bodied Hunter Valley blend combines the traditional beauty of Shiraz with the modern charm of Tempranillo. Savoury notes of leather, spice, and charry oak combine with bright plum and cherry on the nose to deliver a wine of impressive complexity. The palate offers great depth of flavour combined with savoury tannins and soft acidity. Warms the soul on a cold winter’s night. Purchase at cellar door on online here.
De Iuliis 2022 Special Release LDR Vineyard Tempranillo
Newly released from De Iuliis it’s time to warm up your winter with their new 2022 Special Release LDR Vineyard Tempranillo. With its juicy blackberry and blackcurrant flavours, this Tempranillo pairs perfectly with roasted meats, paella, hard cheeses, and tomato-based dishes like pasta or pizza. Its rustic tannins add depth, making each sip a delightful complement to hearty fare this wintertime. Click here to purchase.
Wild Ren 2021 Shiraz
Wild Ren Wines 2021 Shiraz, a well balanced blend of Hunter Valley and McLaren Vale Shiraz. This vibrant Shiraz features fleshy dark berries with layers of chocolate and spice. Best enjoyed snuggled up with the other half by the fire with some decadent dark chocolate. Click here to purchase.
Mount Pleasant 2023 Rosehill Shiraz
First planted by Maurice O’Shea in 1946, the Rosehill Vineyard is a wonderful site. Producing wines that are quintessentially Hunter Valley, they are bright, red-fruited, and elegant, with the ability to age gracefully for the long term. This single vineyard wine is a representation of the best of this vineyard in that specific year of production. Click here to purchase.
Petersons Wines 2019 Shiraz Block One
This dark garnet red wine captivates with aromas of ripe black fruits, warm spices, and earthy nuances. On the palate, it's full-bodied and juicy with layers of black plum, boysenberry, and hints of black pepper and rosemary, culminating in a long, rounded finish. Ideal for cellaring up to 7 years, it pairs perfectly with beef fillet, mushroom pie, and aged Parmigiano. Click here to purchase.
Adina 2019 Tempranillo
A beautiful light red, a bouquet of red fruit and oak with savoury spice on the palate, perfect for nestling fireside on cold winter days. Mix it up by warming in the slow cooker, add some cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and orange slices to create a beautiful, mulled wine, filling your home with the indulgent aromas of winter. Click here to purchase.
Wild Ren Tempranillo
Wild Ren Wines Tempranillo is a lush medium bodied wine packed with a rich fruit profile of lush cherries, blueberries, and spice. Pair with your winter comfort foods from Lamb Ragus’ to Crispy Pork Belly, the possibilities are endless. Click here to purchase.
McCaffrey’s Estate 2023 Cabernet Franc ‘The Frenchman’
Once smelt never forgotten. The aromatic nature of Cabernet Franc is immediately evident here. Plums and red berries on the palate providing that savoury textured finish, which is quintessentially French, the memory will linger. A lovely wine to enjoy with Beef Bourguignon, portobello mushrooms or lamb cutlets. Click here to purchase.
Molly Morgan 2019 Shiraz
A bold red with a distinct regional character. Juicy ripe cherry bursting on the palate. The nose is rich with robust red fruit flavours, plum, red currant, and raspberry. A true Hunter Shiraz; bold bright and juicy with subtle woody notes from its time in French Oak. With medium body, it deserves a satisfyingly smooth finish, celebrating the renowned terroir of the Hunter valley in every sip. To be enjoyed with prime red meat and richer flavours. Click here to purchase.
Degen Estate Sparkling Shiraz
Glorious winter days in the Hunter are the perfect reason to indulge in sparkling wines. Degen Sparkling Shiraz is an exceptional celebratory wine made from the Degen’s petite and prized single vineyard. Click here to purchase.
Savannah Estate 2021 Tempranillo
The 2021 Hunter Valley Tempranillo features dark fruit aromas like blackberry and plum, with hints of leather and tobacco. On the palate, it offers rich, velvety flavors of dark fruit, vanilla, and oak, with a firm tannin structure and a long finish. Perfectly paired with prawn and chorizo pizza, it can be cellared for 5-7 years. Click here to purchase.
Brokenwood Wines 2022 Graveyard Shiraz
Margan Wines Cab Sav & Barbera
Margan have just released two new sensational single-vineyard red wines, perfect for enjoying fireside over the winter months (or while huddling around the heater). The Ceres Hill Barbera is a Margan icon, a medium-bodied Mediterranean red that loves to be enjoyed with good company and Italian-style pizza. The new 2023 vintage may be the best release to date.
Meanwhile, the 2023 Saxonvale Cabernet Sauvignon will be the perfect fireside companion this Winter or many more to come if cellared. Bold dark fruit characters, firm tannins and a long lingering finish are the hallmarks of this stand-out vintage. A match made in heavy with slow-cooked lamb or a hearty winter dinner. Click here to buy or learn more.
