Based at their Home of the Brave winery in the Barossa, First Drop describe their wine-making philosophy as a sensibility for tradition with a passion for innovation. The Cream is blended at the optimum time from the best barrels from First Drops most prized vineyards to create the ultimate expression of Barossa Shiraz from the vintage.

THE STANDISH WINE COMPANY The Schubert Theorem Shiraz, Barossa Valley Dan Standish is indisputably one of the Barossas most celebrated Shiraz producers now. Joe Czerwinski has deemed him, the reigning king of Barossa Shiraz. An alumni of Torbreck, Standishs Shiraz expressions are outstanding expressions of a region defined by this wine. The Schubert Theorem is an appropriately powerful composition, made from vines planted over 100 years ago in the Vine Vale region. Standish himself likens The Schubert Theorem to the wines of the Northern Rhône. It is basket-pressed and aged in French oak for 30 months. Inky, deep purple juice is as intense as it looks. Rich Black Forest fruit and aniseed marry with spice, earth and dark chocolate on the nose. The palate is decadent and opulent, rich with juicy black fruits, plum and liquorice. This is a superbly concentrated wine, the structure showcasing exceptional fruit purity. The finish is incredibly long and powerfulif only it could go on forever.

The trailblazers of the Adelaide Hills have created another outstanding wine. A superb expression of modern cool-climate Shiraz; Shaw & Smith is elegantly spicy and brimming with supple red-fruit flavours matched by fine tannins. An absolute ripper.

Henschke have in recent years begun to identify and single out great quality parcels of Shiraz fruit that deserves to be bottled seperately and released as part of their Vineyard Selection. The Tappa Pass Shiraz is sourced from old low yielding Barossa vineyards that shows amazing depth and concentration. Rich, lush and intense it will develop further complexity with bottle age.

Old, extremely low-yielding McLaren Vale vines are responsible for d'Arenberg's Dead Arm Shiraz - a wine of enormous power, intensity and real complexity - an absolute must for any serious wine cellar and d'Arenberg lover. One of the flagships for McLaren Vale for many years, this wine continues to shine with a balanced between tradition and Chester Osborne driven innovation.

Yarra Yering is not only a Victorian icon, but a true Australian wine treasure. The Underhill Shiraz is sourced exclusively from the 1974 planted block of Shiraz at the western-most extremity of the vineyard. Drawn from soils with a higher clay base which has resulted in a wine of a more masculine bent offering darker fruits and spice with chewier tannins and a savoury undertone.