When most people think of Shiraz, they picture big, bold, brooding red wines. But in the Hunter Valley Shiraz is getting noticed as people veer away from big bold and high in alcohol wine styles. Some say Hunter Shiraz is Shiraz for Pinot Noir drinkers – it’s bright, fresh, fruit forward, versatile and full of character. It’s a fabulous balance between tradition and excitement as winemakers across the Hunter are crafting exciting new styles and blends that are catching the attention of sommeliers, wine lovers, and experimental drinkers alike.
Traditional Hunter Valley Shiraz is known for its medium body, savoury notes, and earthy complexity. Its elegant rather than muscular, designed for food, ageing and subtlety. But even some of the classics are being reinterpreted. Think earlier picking, preserving natural acidity, lower alcohols, minimal intervention winemaking practices and using oak for texture rather than takeover.
The result? Shiraz that’s juicy, bright, and refreshingly drinkable not just on winter nights, but all year round.
The rise of medium weight, fruit forward and food friendly wines is real, and Hunter winemakers are responding. These are wines that flirt with Shiraz’s more playful side - think spice, cherry, red plum and just a gentle lick of tannin.
Some in their most pure forms are unoaked or lightly oaked, carbonically fermented, or even served slightly chilled, making them perfect for today’s climate and lifestyle.
But it’s the blending of Shiraz with unexpected varieties that’s not just experimental - it’s producing some knockout wines with flavour profiles you’ve probably never tasted before.
While a Shiraz Pinot Noir blend is no new kid on the block, it’s certainly turning heads. This nod to a Hunter classic ‘Hunter River Burgundy’ is the perfect Pinot lover’s segue into Shiraz territory. And it’s got legs. This stylish blend brings lift, perfume and a silky elegance to an already classy take on Australian Shiraz. As one renowned wine critic recently described the new Shiraz blend additions to Thomas Wines Shiraz only red portfolio as ‘old ways through new eyes’ and he wasn’t far wrong.
At the 2025 Hunter Valley Wine show, Mercer Wines’ 2024 Limited Release Shiraz Pinot Noir won the trophy for Best Other Red Varietal, with Mount Pleasant Wines’ 2024 Mount Henery Shiraz Pinot Noir, Sweetwater Estate’s 2023 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon, Silkman Wines’ 2023 Reserve Shiraz Pinot Noir and Thomas Wines 2024 Nova Shiraz Touriga being awarded gold medals.
Several clever Hunter winemakers have been experimenting with even more unusual blends in the realm of Shiraz Touriga Nacional, Shiraz Tempranillo and Shiraz Mourvèdre (although this blend is common practice in the Southern Rhone region of France). Margan are making a fine example of this later style and Keith Tulloch has perfected a trio of Shiraz Touriga Viognier which are definitely worth a look.
Shiraz Touriga or Touriga Nacional in its entirety brings about a wine that’s part Portuguese flair, part Hunter spice with the Touriga adding vibrant florals and blue-fruit crunch, giving Shiraz an almost exotic twist. With a passion for all things Portuguese, Whispering Brook were one of the pioneers of this evocative style and De Iuliis has won many a medal for their interpretation.
Shiraz Tempranillo some say is a savoury match made in tapas heaven. This Spanish stalwart brings an incredible energy to Hunter Shiraz. The Little Wine Company and Margan Wines both in the Broke sub-region both finding this energy in various incarnations of Shiraz and Tempranillo.
These wines are expressive, food-friendly, and easy to love, especially for drinkers who don’t want the weight of a traditional Australian Shiraz.
Blends aside, many Hunter winemakers are putting sustainability at the centre of their craft and it’s certainly paying off. From organic practices and regenerative farming to low-intervention winemaking and lighter packaging, there’s a conscious movement underway. This ethos resonates deeply with a younger crowd looking for wines that tread lightly and taste amazing.
The Hunter Valley is doing something special - it’s proving that Shiraz can be cool, clever, and current without losing its soul.
If you’re new to red wine or have been driven away by overly heavy styles in the past, these modern Hunter Shiraz expressions are the ultimate reset. They’re wines for today’s table, they’re wines to be shared, they’re unpretentious, and endlessly interesting.
