2012 Kay Brothers Amery Vineyards Hillside Shiraz (Screwcap)

Kay Brothers Amery Vineyards, in McLaren Vale, was founded in 1891 by brothers Herbert and Frederick Kay, and today the winery is still owned and operated by the Kay family. Although Kay Brothers makes Riesling, Viognier, Merlot, and dessert wines, their signature wines are single vineyard Shiraz bottlings. Robert M. Parker Jr. has called Kay Brothers wines “individualistic” and “impressive,” and notes that the Shiraz, especially, is often “full-throttled and substantial.” The winery makes much of its history as one of the pioneering wine producers in the region, and the rather formal, 19th century-looking labels on the bottles sometimes include portraits of the founding brothers.

South Australia is the nation’s most important wine region. South Australia is to Australia what California is to the U.S. About half of Australia’s wine comes from South Australia and many of the country’s most acclaimed producers are there. Wineries based in South Australia include Penfolds Grange, Torbreck, Amon Ra, Henschke and Jacob’s Creek. The prestigious Barossa Valley is located in South Australia, and is often compared to Napa Valley because it is gorgeous topography covered in grape vines. First farmed by 19th century German-speakers who immigrated from what is now Poland, the Barossa Valley is the crown jewel of the region. South Australia has widely varying climates, from very hot, dry areas to cooler, high altitude areas. There are more than 150,000 acres of vineyards in South Australia, with more being planted each month. Shiraz is king, though the region also produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Mourvedre, Chardonnay and Semillon.

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.