Winning shiraz food pairings

It's Australia's most popular drop - the gold old shiraz. So what's it good to pair with? Here's our top five shiraz & food pairing suggestions that'll get your stomach singing.

Five-spice grilled pork chops

Five-spice; we’re talking that sweet, umami seasoning blend that’s a heady mix of cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, and Szechuan peppercorns, delivering warmth and aromatic flavours that'll knock your socks off when added to a meal. Sounds like a wine we know? Turns out, when you pair it with shiraz, it's a match made in heaven.

Why? A red-fruited, peppery shiraz is the perfect complement to those five-spice notes, creating a damn harmonious and flavourful pairing. Plus, the wine's bold profile and high acidity can balance out any sweet and savoury glazes or marinades in the dish, hitting all the right notes on your taste buds.

Trust us mates, you're going to want to savour every last mouthful. It's a pairing that'll make you a believer.

Roast lamb with anchovy and black olive

Roast lamb used to be considered classic pinot noir-pairing territory, but it’s a dish that a syrah or shiraz will handle with aplomb too. Reach for one of these whenever you’re cooking lamb with anchovies and olives, as it’ll match up perfectly with those rich savoury flavours in the dish whilst also lending its acidity to refresh your palate from fat between mouthfuls. 

Plus, the plush red fruits of younger shiraz wines will provide a bright contrast to the brininess of the anchovies and olives if they’re still knocking around the plate and haven't dissolved into the dish. Tannins in shiraz (of which you’ll find plenty) also like to bind to proteins, so they’ll happily wrap around that leg of lamb and go to work for you.

Kangaroo fillet with parsley and thyme

That old adage, “if it grows together, it goes together” applies here - try this combo that's uniquely Australian and undeniably delicious. It’s Argentina’s steak and malbec, done down under. 

The lean and gamey meat of kangaroo can be a bit of a challenge to pair, but shiraz is more than up for the task. Those medium-to-high tannin levels in the wine can complement the strong and earthy flavours of the kangaroo, with enough red fruit to add richness to the pairing and bring out the unique character of kangaroo. The acidity will also help cut through the lean meat, refreshing your palate and making each bite more enjoyable.

But it's not just about the flavours, mofos. This pairing is a celebration of Australia's culinary culture, the animal that’s on the flag and the wine that’s one of the country's flagship wine varieties. So, take a bite, have a sip, and celebrate what’s great about Oz.

Burger with blue cheese

Wanna know why shiraz is the real deal when it comes to pairing with a burger smothered in blue cheese? The flavours of a bold, full-bodied Barossa shiraz can stand up to the rich, pungent flavour of blue cheese like nobody's business. Shiraz cuts through the creaminess of the cheese and the fat in the burger like a hot knife through butter, cleansing your palate and balancing out the flavours of the dish. Not doing beef? No problem - swap out for a portobello mushroom and it's the same deal.

Shiraz's fruitiness can also complement the sweetness of caramelised onions or tomato-based sauces that are often part of the deal here, and shiraz’s pepper-spiciness also pairs well with the chargrilled flavours of a perfectly cooked burger.

Bottom line? If you want to take your burger game to the next level, strap in, pour yourself a glass of shiraz and enjoy the ride.

A full-on aged-cheese board

Here’s a pairing that's aged to perfection; shiraz and aged cheeses. A match made in heaven and one that's sure to get your taste buds well and truly tantalised.

The bold and full-bodied flavour of shiraz is a natural complement to the saltiness of aged cheeses. The supple tannins of shiraz will create balance, creating a delicious and harmonious combination that'll make you want to go back for more.

Shiraz is also more than happy to lend its red fruits and pepper-spice, which can enhance the nutty and earthy flavours of aged cheese, with an acidity that can also cut through the richness, refreshing your palate and preparing you for the next bite.

The best part? Shiraz is versatile enough to pair with a variety of aged cheeses, from sharp cheddar to tangy blue cheese. And when pairing them together, you get that fantastic double-act where each plays off each other to give you their best. Please pass the cheese knife and the crackers, we won't promise we'll give them back though.

Half the fun of discovering a perfect pairing is through experimentation though - whilst the above are sure fire winners (for us, at least) every palette is different. Pour and explore, get to know what vino vibes with you and your favourite meals.

Hang on, why are we still writing this and not heading to the kitchen? We’re going to grab a glass and some grub from the above - if you want to check out the latest and greatest shiraz at the 'fo, you can find them here.