Grenache vs Shiraz: a McLaren Vale tasting trail
Five cellar doors, two grapes, one structured side-by-side
Why this trail exists
Most first-time visitors to McLaren Vale arrive thinking of it as Shiraz country. It is — but it is also the spiritual home of Australian Grenache, and the gnarled old bush vines around Blewitt Springs and Seaview produce some of the most exciting reds in the country. The problem is that if you taste them in isolation, on different days at different cellar doors, you never quite pin down what makes each grape tick. This trail fixes that.
How to taste them side-by-side
At every stop, ask the cellar door staff to pour you the estate Shiraz and the estate Grenache one after the other. Then run them through this short framework:
Look. Grenache is almost always lighter in colour — think translucent ruby, sometimes verging on Pinot. Shiraz is darker, denser, often opaque at the rim. Hold the glass against a white tablecloth.
Smell. Grenache leans red — raspberry, strawberry, rose petal, white pepper, dried herbs. Shiraz leans dark and savoury — blackberry, plum, liquorice, chocolate, smoked meat, black pepper. Swirl, sniff, swirl again.
Taste. Grenache is usually higher in alcohol but lower in tannin, so it feels lifted and silky. Shiraf is lower in acid, denser in tannin, and finishes longer and broader. Pay attention to where you feel the wine in your mouth — Grenache up front, Shiraz across the back palate.
Compare. Write one word for each. Just one. By the end of the day you will have ten words and you will know which grape you actually love.
How to plan the day
Five cellar doors is the absolute maximum. Two before lunch, lunch in the vines, two after, then a relaxed final tasting. Book the lunch first, build the cellar doors around it, and either bring a designated driver or book a small-group tour van. Spit early, spit often — the only way to make it through five double tastings.
When to go
Weekdays are quieter and the winemakers are more likely to be around. Autumn (March-May) is the most beautiful season in the vineyards as the leaves turn, but spring is when the grenache vines are at their most photogenic. Avoid the weekend after vintage in March — everyone is exhausted and short-staffed.
What to bring
Water (a lot of it), sunglasses, a notebook, a hat, and a cooler in the boot for the bottles you will absolutely buy. Cash for tips at smaller cellar doors. A clean palate — go easy on coffee at breakfast.
One last tip
At the end of the day, pick your favourite Grenache and your favourite Shiraz, buy a bottle of each, and drink them at home a week later with the same meal. That is when the lessons of the day really land.
Day 1
6 stops-
1
Yangarra Estate Vineyard
McLaren ValeStart at Yangarra in Blewitt Springs. They are the benchmark for old-vine biodynamic Grenache in Australia — ask for the High Sands and the estate Shiraz back-to-back. Allow 45 minutes.
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2
Paxton Wines
McLaren ValeDrop down to Paxton for a second look. Their Quandong Farm Grenache and Jones Block Shiraz are the cleanest comparison on the trail. Insider tip: ask about the AAA blend to see what Grenache-Shiraz looks like together.
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3
The Salopian Inn
McLaren ValeLong lunch in the middle of the day. Share plates, a garden table, and a glass of something neither Grenache nor Shiraz to reset the palate. Book ahead for weekends.
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4
S.C. Pannell
McLaren ValeAfter lunch, head to S.C. Pannell. Steve Pannell is one of the loudest voices for Mediterranean varieties in the Vale and his Grenache is a masterclass in restraint. Allow an hour and the view across the vines.
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5
Coriole Vineyards
McLaren ValeCoriole is the historian's stop. Their Estate Shiraz comes from vines planted in 1919, and their Sangiovese tasting will broaden your palate. Take a moment in the courtyard garden.
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6
Samuel's Gorge
McLaren ValeFinish at Samuel's Gorge — a tiny shed cellar door tucked into the hills. Justin's Grenache is the wine to remember the day by. Buy a bottle for home.
See place →
On the map
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