Are You Game? Shiraz

Plum-filled Shiraz from Victoria, south-east Australia, that fills the nostrils with cinnamon, black pepper and spice.

Vineyard: Sharing latitudinal pedigree with Gisborne in New Zealand; Sonoma and Napa Valleys in the USA; Mendoza in Argentina; Sicily in Italy and Jerez in Spain, Victoria is the southern-most and coolest State of mainland Australia, famed for its diverse wine regions and cool climate. Home to Fowles Wine vineyards and winery, the Strathbogie Ranges is characterised by massive granite boulders – the very boulders that have given rise, over millions of years, to the sandy loam soils in which our vines grow. This is a harsh Australian landscape with soil that is nutrient poor and retains very little water – difficult for farmers to grow livestock, but a wonderful landscape for grape growers seeking to grow fruit with great intensity. Couple these attributes with the cool climate, gentle aspect and glorious summer sunshine and the Strathbogie Ranges is an ideal region for growing grapes and making wine. The mean January temperature is 19.15°C and the average annual rainfall in our family vineyards is 700 mm (28 inches). Harvest in the Strathbogie Ranges generally occurs from late February through to early May. The Fowles Wine vineyards and winery are located in the dramatic granite landscape of Strathbogie Ranges region of Victoria, Australia. Fowles Wine crafts some of Australia’s finest cool climate wines, winning many of Australia’s most prestigious wine medals and trophies. The Fowles Wine team is energetic and enterprising, continuing to break new ground by proudly taking the Strathbogie Ranges ‘message in a bottle’ to the world with some of Australia’s most exciting wines.
Vinification: Fermented in sweep-arm fermenters to maximise colour and flavour. Wine was fermented around 24C in stainless steel tanks to preserve primary fruit flavours. Matured using new and old French and American oak.

Wild Game, especially venison or mutton.