Sexy Sparkling Shiraz

One of our favorite sparkly sips is this sexy bubbly- SHINGLEBACK’S SPARKLING SHIRAZ.

Hailing from Australia’s McLaren Vale where grapes grow like Napa, this wine retains all the characteristics of a great shiraz, plus bubbles. The wine is hearty and the dose of bubbles doesn’t diminish its medium to heavy body. The flavor offers a big hit of dark fruit- blackberries, black cherries, with spice, even licorice. The wine is less sweet than most other sparkling shiraz I’ve tasted. That allows for a depth of layered flavors.

The grapes are pulled from multiple years and, obviously the manipulation to achieve the sparkle, tends to keep purists from this wine. For me the unique qualities of the result and because it’s damn delicious precludes that bias. I call it sexy because its extremely rewarding in flavor and mouthfeel.

We drank a bottle of this last weekend in our first Snowpocalypse in the Northeastern US. We drank it before a meal, but I think the wine would make a great pairing with a variety of foods. The body and spice in the wine would make it a hit with anything spicy and/or sweet, in particular Indian, Chinese or BBQ of any cuisine. I’d also drink it with braised beef dishes like short ribs or pot roast. A roasted chicken with sweet potatoes would be another idea.

Check this baby out. I think you’ll find it a rewarding sipper!