Cool-Climate Adelaide Hills Shiraz — Elegance Over Power

Shaw and Smith — Adelaide Hills Pioneers

Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW established Shaw and Smith in 1989 with a clear and deliberate philosophy: to make wines of elegance, precision, and cool-climate character from the Adelaide Hills. At a time when Australian wine was defined by big, warm-climate Shiraz, they chose the Hills — higher altitude, cooler temperatures, and a style closer to the Northern Rhône than the Barossa. More than three decades later, their Shiraz remains one of the most compelling arguments for what cool-climate South Australia can achieve.

Three Sites, One Vision

The 2019 Shaw and Smith Shiraz is sourced from three carefully selected sites across the Adelaide Hills, each contributing something distinct to the final blend. A mix of whole berries and whole bunches was used in fermentation — a technique that adds fragrance, texture, and a gentle spice to the wine — before 14 months maturation in a third new oak, preserving the fruit's purity while adding subtle complexity.

Fruit, Flint & White Pepper

The result is a wine of alluring character: an enticing mix of fruit and flint on the nose that hints at the balanced earthiness to come. Plum fruit and earthy notes sit very comfortably together across the full length of the palate, while fine, white peppery tannins add a savoury, cool-climate signature on the finish. This is Shiraz for those who find Barossa too heavy — and for those who love the Northern Rhône but want to explore what Australia can do.

What's in the Bottle

Variety: Shiraz
Sites: 3 Adelaide Hills vineyards
Fermentation: Whole berry and whole bunch
Oak: 14 months, one-third new
Region: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Vintage: 2019
Bottle size: 750ml

Drink Window

With 6 years of bottle age, the 2019 is drinking at its most expressive now. Decant for 30 minutes. Will continue to hold through 2028.

You Might Also Enjoy

If the Shaw and Smith Shiraz has captured your attention, these cool-climate Syrah from different producers are worth exploring:

• 2021 Murdoch Hill The Landau Single Vineyard Syrah — a single-vineyard Adelaide Hills Syrah of exceptional precision and cool-climate character, a natural peer and step up
• 2018 Bird in Hand Syrah — a cool-climate Adelaide Hills Syrah from one of the Hills' most celebrated family estates
• 2019 Yarra Yering Dry Red 2 — a cool-climate Yarra Valley Shiraz blend from one of Australia's most historic and revered estates

Life's too short for bad wine.