Wine Reviews

25th October, 2022

Sparkling Red Wines for the all year round festivities

Sparkling Red Wines

Sparkling Red Wines and Shiraz are a staple of Australian Festivities at all times of the year. They lend themselves to being imbibed with both the meats from the Barbie and the turkey with the Christmas lunch and winter lunches. Buy Sparkling Shiraz in our shop.

Most UK retailers stock only one, or at most two of these very special wines. The UK customers often see them as a novelty at best, and something unacceptable at worst. Red Sparkling! Not for me! is the refrain from a lot of people without even trying this very different wine. Too Sweet! Is another response, driven by the Lambruscos of the seventies, when Australian Sparkling Reds have a range of styles mainly reflecting their paring with foods and their place as a fun wine.

So, as we are an Australian specialist, recognisable by our name Australian Wines Online, we stock at least six sparkling reds at all times of the year and aim to provide our clientele with the best of these wines. Not all our shiraz based, they reflect the diversity of this type of specialist wine, and of course, almost inevitably our personal tastes.

So, what do we drink?

Sparkling Red Wines – our choice, Shiraz and Other

Peter Lehmann Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz

Named after the Famous/Infamous Queen of Sheba, this great sparkling shiraz made by the Peter Lehmann winery ranks at the top of the list of our red sparklers

This wine began as an experiment using the methode traditionelle  with old vine Barossa shiraz to produce a sparkling shiraz to add to the portfolio. The grapes were sourced from a single vineyard of survivor vine Shiraz, planted in 1928. Black Queen has become an integral part of the Peter Lehmann portfolio with special individual vintage releases. This regal sparkling red wine boasts bold flavours and a fine, and elegant taste.

Peter Lehmann Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz – The ‘jewel in the crown,’ is a unique and indulgent Sparkling red. It boasts naturally low tannins and is rich in juicy blue fruit flavours, balanced by spice and a savoury finish. It has a deep red colour with a purple centre. On the nose are hints of stewed plums, black cherry and mocha. The palate tastes of exotic spices and dark chocolate. It has a long savoury finish.

Peter Lehmann Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz

Buy the Peter Lehmann Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz here

Majella Sparkling Shiraz

Majella Sparkling Shiraz is bottle fermented like Champagne. As part of the process a small amount of port is added to the final blend. This produces a well-balanced sweet/savoury sparkling red wine. It is a deep red with a ruby hue.

The wine is ideal as an accompaniment to food, either before or after a meal, or in fact any time you feel the need to drink it. It has a creamy raspberry bouquet, bringing forth sweet berry flavours with hints of plum, nutmeg and gentle tannins.

It’s a great wine for any occasion, and goes well with most food styles particularly game, spicy foods and cured meats.

Majella Sparkling Shiraz a fabulous example of Australian Sparkling “breakfast” wine.

Majella Sparkling Shiraz

Buy the Majella Sparkling Shiraz here

Miss Molly Sparkling Shiraz

A product of the iconic Mollydooker Winery, Miss Molly is a sister wine to their Great Shiraz – “The Boxer”. Made from the same grapes but put through a secondary fermentation allowing them to create this beautiful sparkling wine. Miss Molly is the Boxer’s girlfriend, bubbly and full of fun.

Miss Molly is a classy and bubbly lady, brimming with vivid maraschino cherry and plum jam that develop into layers of milk chocolate and mocha.

Vivacious and full of class, Miss Molly is brimming with vivid maraschino cherry and plum jam that progress into layers of milk chocolate and mocha. Toffee and cinnamon notes intermix throughout the flavour spectrum as the bubbles add an undeniable vibrancy to the mouth feel. This wine is a lively celebration of McLaren Vale Shiraz, fitting for any occasion.

Mollydooker Miss Molly Sparkling Shiraz – a great example of this type of wine

Mollydooker Miss Molly Sparkling Shiraz

Buy the Miss Molly Sparking Shiraz here 

d’Arenberg The Peppermint Paddock

This wine is a product of one of Australia’s First Families of Wine. It is a sparkling red-sec Chambourcin blend from McLaren Vale from this famous premium winemaker whose wines are known all across the globe. D’Arenberg has been well known in the UK for many years for the production of excellent, great value wines.

The story behind the name comes from the original block of vines used to make it. Surrounded by peppermint gums, the block was replanted in 1989 to Chambourcin from Shiraz which had never grown well on that particular site. When the fruit is picked fully ripe it retains high levels of acidity, an abundance of colour, flavour and tannin – perfect for a sparkling red wine

The wine is a vibrant purple and tantalises the palate. It is full and fresh, slightly sweet, showing strong flavours of mint, black fruits and Christmas spice. The nose is full of exotic spice, plum and black olives with a whiff of dark fruits and a hint of cedar.

The wine is well balanced and concludes with persistent tannin and intertwined acidity. This is the wine to accompany the Christmas turkey and ham. Perfect red for a hot summer’s day and could easily handle a beef curry for that matter.

Sparkling Red Wines - The Peppermint Paddock

Buy the d’Arenberg The Peppermint Paddock here

Paulett Wines Sparkling Red

Paulett Wines Sparkling Red is rich, plummy and bubbly. Rich flavours make it perfect for celebrating in front of the fire during the cooler months. And if you love your reds, it’s a fun alternative during the summer. Truly festive, it works for Christmas… in December or July. A very different speciality red sparkling wine.

It is a Cabernet Shiraz blend, unusual for this type of wine. It has a deep ruby Colour with both savoury and plum aromas. The subtle tannins give a lasting impression of elegance and well-balanced restraint. Can be enjoyed in two ways – a standalone drink with friends or a beautiful accompaniment to a meal. A true wine for all seasons.

Sparkling Red Wines by Paulett

Buy the Paulett Wines Sparkling Red here

McGuigan Black Label Sparkling Shiraz

McGuigans is a mass producer of Australian wines. This is a mass-produced product aimed at a certain segment of the market.

The wine is a sparkling Shiraz with flavours of plum, cherry and chocolate. These rich flavours coupled with fine bubbles deliver a delightful and refreshing dry sparkling wine.

Shiraz wine from various specially selected vintages were combined to form the ideal base for this sparkling red. This base wine then underwent the Charmat method of secondary fermentation to deliver great fruit flavours and refreshing bubbles. Finally, the wine was transferred under pressure into glass to ensure the crisp beads remain as a feature for your enjoyment.

McGuigan Black Label Sparkling Shiraz

Buy the McGuigan Black Label Sparkling Shiraz here

Sparkling Red Wines are not everybody’s immediate choice. However if you are adventurous, and want to try something new, Sparkling Red Wines may well be the road to take.

Australian Wines Online c/o Wine Buffs Ltd, 19 Hurleston Way, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 6XN
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