2004 Rolf Binder Hanisch Shiraz

Rolf Binder was founded in the Barossa Valley of South Australia in 1955 by Rolf Binder and his wife Franziska. The couple, immigrants from Austria and Hungary, bought an existing winery and renamed it Veritas as a reference to the Latin quote “In Vino Veritas,” or, "in wine there is truth." The estate’s name was changed to Rolf Binder in 2005 to honor Binder, who died in 2003. Today the estate is still owned and operated by Rolf’s children, son Rolf Binder and daughter Christa Dean, both winemakers. Christa makes the estate’s white wines and Rolf makes the reds. The estate owns 160 acres of vineyards, which are planted to Riesling, Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mataro, Malbec and Grenache. Robert M. Parker Jr. has rated the estate’s wines in the low and mid-90s and has written that “Binder’s Hanisch and Heysen Shiraz cuvees rank among the finest produced in Australia.’

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.