With the Southern Ocean coastline just minutes from Gemtree's vineyards, the maritime influence runs deep at this winery. Couple this with the certified organic vineyards that are tended by hand and you have a perfect recipe for a bold and full-bodied Shiraz; the Dragon's Blood McLaren Vale Shiraz. Choosing sites that offer the greatest varietal expression, concentration and finesse, the wine then saw maturation in French oak of sizes ranging from barriques (225L) to puncheons (500L) for 12 months. The result is a foreboding Shiraz that displays notes of blueberry, blackcurrant, aniseed and balancing earthen touch. Ideal served on its own to fully appreciate the rich and complex flavours but also at home when paired with French cutlets and slow cooked duck.

The Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz is an opulent concentrated and complex style with plenty of spicy fruit and a dash of chocolate. True to the style that Wolf himself made from the very beginning of this now iconic brand, this is very tasty and enjoyable now yet it has the weight and complexity to improve with cellaring.

Penny's Hill Cracking Black Shiraz continues to be what all McLaren Vale Shiraz should be. Deliciously intense, with all its components looking their best and beautifully synchronised. There's lengthy concentrated blackberry fruit, liquorice and pepper. Superb!

An industry veteran in value for money in the sparkling red category, Andrew Garrett is still holding its own among the dozens of more recent offerings. Good red fruit flavour and balance

Beresford pride themselves on passionately capturing the pure varietal expression and the essence of their terrior to deliver a Shiraz of timeless elegance and muscular complexity. Quintessentially McLaren Vale, the wine has a rich, full palate brimming with dark berry fruits, coffee and spice characteristics finishing with soft, lengthy tannins. A cracking wine of great substance and exceptional balance.

Shingleback Red Knot Shiraz has beautiful layers of dark fruits and soft earthy chocolate aromas on the nose. The Subtle savoury oak and chewy fruit tannins gives a nice structure to the wine. This will be a rewarding wine with careful cellaring, ensuring longevity.

A Shiraz for the big boys, fresh red currants and blueberries leap from the glass and are interwoven with violets and spice. The palate is rich in juicy raspberries; blueberries and spice fill the mouth and are supported by bright acid and silky tannins. The finish is fleshy, juicy and plush with wonderful medium bodied balance and style.

Beresford wines capture the timeless elegance, powerful complexity and unique essence of McLaren Vale, resulting in wines of great substance, balance and depth. Their McLaren Vale Shiraz is a beautiful example of this, rich plum and blackcurrants with overtones of mocha and spice. A rich full palate, with hints of mocha and spice. Subtle use of oak further adds complexity while the palate finishes with a firm, but soft tannins. A well balanced wine with great depth, length and resistance of flavour.

Sharktooth is an apt name of this wonderfully balanced wine. Razor sharp flavours of dark mulberry and blackcurrant are sliced by a freshness and vibrancy not often seen in full-bodied wines from McLaren Vale. A supreme example of modern Australian red winemaking is on display here and despite the unctuous concentration this wine dances across the palate and leaves you with a delightful length of flavour.

Sitting proudly next to the iconic Woodhenge gate at Wirra is a classic Aussie residence. Originally built after severe storms destroyed the winery buildings in 1940, the then owners, the Sparrows, built this residence with left over materials from the fallen winery. Over the years, Sparrow's Lodge has been home to vintage vagabonds and the occasional winemaker and it is the good times that have been had within its walls that is celebrated in this wonderful, rich, vibrant and full-bodied McLaren Vale Shiraz.