Australia — wine

Grampians

Victoria's historic wine region in the Grampians mountain range at 300-500m altitude, producing Australia's oldest and most distinctive Shiraz from ancient soils of red volcanic basalt, sandy loam, and limestone. The Grampians — particularly the Great Western sub-region — has produced sparkling wine since 1865 and some of Australia's most age-worthy Shiraz from old, dry-farmed vines. Best's Great Western and Mount Langi Ghiran are the region's benchmark producers.

Year Rating Notes
2022 Outstanding Grampians vintage; Shiraz from ancient volcanic basalt showed extraordinary peppery complexity and mineral freshness.
2021 Classic cool-altitude vintage; Best's Thomson Family Shiraz from ungrafted vines showed haunting mineral transparency.
2020 Benchmark year; Mount Langi Ghiran and Best's produced Shiraz of exceptional elegance and white pepper intensity.
2019 Outstanding vintage; the Grampians' cool altitude produced Shiraz of Rhône-like elegance with Australian dark fruit depth.
2018 Solid vintage; old-vine Shiraz from ancient volcanic soils showed excellent mineral character and aging potential.