Sparkling Shiraz: Exquisite Despite Cheaper Knock-offs

December 31st, 2011

It’s easier to defend the complexities of sparkling Shiraz if you often pair it with your meals. Those who are used to either red or bubbly wines may snort at the absurdity of bubbly Shiraz, though. Indeed, the color bears an uncanny resemblance to fizzy grape soda pop. The color of the wine, coupled with your unpleasant samplings of its cheaper varieties, should warrant your prejudices. This is quite unfortunate, because exquisite bubbly Shiraz should offer a perfect balance of oak and fruity flavors. The fizz only enhances the aftertaste instead of dissolving it, quite the opposite of what you’ll expect. Whether you want to be properly introduced to sparkling red wines or you’d like to give the variety one last chance to prove itself, you’d best opt for an Australian bottle for the best offerings.

Making bubbly Shiraz is a serious Australian wine industry. Many even favor it over other wines for meal pairings at the dinner tables. For people who are unfamiliar with the taste of good bubbly red wine, the meal pairing may seem like an abuse to the taste buds. Once you do enjoy a sampling from an exquisite bottle, you’ll overcome all your uncertainties and hesitations. Since sparkling Shiraz is essentially red wine with pep, the first impression should be dry. Instead of rosy reds, it should have a deep red or purplish color. The bubbles should be fine enough to tease your tongue with the fizzle without dominating the taste’s initial impression. If you still haven’t sampled sparkling red wine, then it’s quite difficult to describe the ideal expectations in words. If you’ve developed a prejudice against the variety because of its cheap knockoffs, then you’ll only overcome it if you give the variety another chance.

This wine suffered a bad rap in the disco seventies, when cheap-tasting varieties were served like Gatorade at the clubs. You’ll love bubbly red wine if you didn’t have the opportunity to sample its substandard varieties, though. As with new experiences, it’s better to approach bubbly red wine without a preconceived point of reference. If your unpleasant experiences of days gone by is directly associated with the displeasure of substandard samplings, then you’ll only cure your prejudice with a good bottle of sparkling Shiraz. Wine quality could only be properly evaluated through sampling. You could settle for the price tag as an indicator if you can’t pop the cork, though. A 20-dollar bottle of bubbly Shiraz is a decent introduction to its taste. If you prefer to sample its best offerings, then you should be willing to spend as much as 100 AUD on a bottle. You won’t be disappointed with the quality, though. It’s not a risky investment because you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the unique nuances of its taste.