Did you always wonder how Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, two of the most popular grape varieties, fare against one another? Known for being used to produce some of the boldest and flavoursome red wines with intense colours, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are similar in many ways, but they have certain differences too. Read on to know how Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon fare on similar aspects:
Wine Regions
Talking particularly about Australian regions, Shiraz, also known as Syrah, is grown in hot climate zones and dominates the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale regions.
Cabernet Sauvignon rules well in the Maritime climate of two of its kingdoms – Margaret River and Coonawarra regions.
Aromas
Aroma characters in Shiraz wines can range from violets to berries, espresso, chocolate, cloves, and black pepper.
Wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon are known for their intense fruit flavour, subtle minty notes, blackcurrant, and grassy aromas.
Texture
Australian Shiraz is a full-bodied, jammier fruit with softer tannin. The high to low acidity and tannin levels of Shiraz grapes help in producing wines with promising aging potential.
Australian Cabernet Sauvignon makes dense, dark and tannic wines with noticeable acidity which contributes to aging potential of the wines.
Food Pairing
Think big and spicy flavours when it comes to food pairing with Australian Shiraz wines. Grilled or roast beef, beef stews, spicy sausages, and hard cheeses like Cheddar, pair extremely well with Australian style Shiraz wines.
On the other hand, steak is a great choice for pairing with Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Other food pairings that enhance the taste of a Cabernet Sauvignon wine include aged Cheddar cheese, grilled Portabello mushroom, braised beef, and grilled lamb.
Some Fine Examples
Shiraz wines
Tahbilk Rare 1860 Vines Shiraz 2013 Nagambie Lakes
Yalumba Rare & Fine Collection The Octavius Shiraz 2013 Barossa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon wines
Cullen Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Margaret River
Redman Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum 2013 Coonawarra
Aussie & Kiwi Wines and Wineries 