How to pair the many shades of shiraz

When we talk about shiraz we tend to use words like big, bold, beefy, muscular – and any other words that suggest it could win a heavyweight championship. It’s a wine that has a staunch reputation, sometimes rightly so, but sometimes that stops people from noticing just how versatile shiraz can be.

That old school thinking is really noticeable when it comes to pairing wine with food. “Red wine with red meat,” we’re always told. Ask for a bit more detail and mayyyybe the experts will proffer “shiraz with grilled meat.” But in reality there’s a broad spectrum of shiraz. Light, medium or full bodied, bold or nuanced, spicy or fruity – all of these characteristics (and more) mix and match to create a whole universe of delicious shiraz with a galaxy of food pairings to boot.

There are so many different styles out there that browsing the shiraz section feels a bit like helplessly scrolling Uber Eats for takeout. In fact, in case you’re doing just that, we thought we’d do the hard work for you. To prove just how versatile shiraz can be, we’re spotlighting the bottles that we can’t get enough of and pairing them up with their best takeaway food matches.

So whether you’re having a well-deserved lazy night or a decadent delivered dinner party, below you’ll find a sensational shiraz and its ideal food pairing – one that’s far more specific than the standard “red meat” answer.