- Quentin Von Essen
From Good To Outstanding… Red Wines of The Hunter Valley
The world of red wines is an adventurous, rich and wonderful world filled with everything from the subtlety of a big Australian Shiraz or South African Pinotage to the softness of a French Merlot or the truly excellent and exciting Mediterranean varietals of Sangiovese, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Tempranillo.
Throughout the world, winemakers strive to make the best possible wine from the available resources. In Australia, for many wine aficionados, the quest for the "perfect" Aussie red starts in the Hunter Valley, where grapes have been grown for almost 200 years.
The world's classic premium red grape varieties are abundant in the Hunter Valley, where some of the oldest vines and most prominent names in Australian wine can be found. The warm climate, deep friable loam and red duplex soils of the Hunter Valley produce superb examples of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Mediterranean varieties, including Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Barbera and Nebbiolo, to mention just a few.
The Hunter Valley is a mecca for lovers of quality wines renowned for their thoroughly unique, distinctive style and ageing ability. Here, over 150 vineyards offer a choice of red wines that range from good to outstanding – think Mount Pleasant Old Paddock and Old Hill Shiraz or Mount Pleasant Maurice O’Shea Shiraz, Tyrrell's Vat 9 Hunter Shiraz or Peterson's IHP Shiraz. And then there are De Iuliis Wines, Adina Vineyard, Briar Ridge, Hungerford Hill, Tamburlaine, Draytons, Blueberry Hill, Polin & Polin and Lisa McGuigan Wines – all producing exceptional red wines.
Whatever you're looking for, the Hunter Valley provides a diversity of red wines perfect for those looking for something different.
Shiraz is the Hunter's premium red variety. The typical young Hunter Valley Shiraz is a medium-bodied wine showing red and dark berries, spices and a great deal of tannin. However, its real character is seen in wines with longevity. With age, the wines become a far more complex, full-bodied, yet smooth and richly flavoured wine with some earthy tones.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most loved red wine and is renowned for its ability to age for decades. These wines can be medium to full-bodied, elegant, aromatic and a rich bouquet with fruity notes of black cherries and currants and herby notes of peppers and olives.
Described as "the most romantic of wines,'' Pinot Noir tends to be light to medium in body with a broad range of textures and flavours, including a variety of complex aromas reminiscent of black or red cherry, raspberry, currant and blackberry. While widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, it is also highly reflective of its terroir, with different wine-growing regions often producing very different wines.
Originating from Bordeaux in France, Merlot is renowned for its wonderfully fruity, well-rounded, even fleshy character and is grown in just about every wine-growing region of Australia. The summer heat of the Hunter is considered to provide the ideal growing conditions for this versatile grape variety. In recent years, Hunter Valley Merlot has experienced a surge in popularity, with a vibrant bouquet providing one of the most pleasurable wine experiences.
Originating in the Rioja region of Spain, where it is often blended with varieties such as Graciano, Grenache and to a lesser extent Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo wine is now being made in many wine regions throughout Australia - including the Hunter Valley. This variety is exciting because it is an easy-drinking, medium to full-bodied wine with lower acidity and full fruit flavours that match well with a wide range of foods. The wine is ruby red in colour, while the aroma and flavours can have plum, cherry, strawberry and herb characteristics.
Originally from the Bordeaux region of France, the bold-yet-floral expression of Petit Verdot is something that all red wine enthusiasts should have the opportunity to try. In Australia, Petit Verdot is planted in warmer climates such as the Hunter Valley, resulting in full-bodied wines with concentrated flavours and integrated tannins.
View our Top 12 Red Wines of the Hunter Valley
