Shiraz | Giggly Grapes

Wine to Pair With Goat Meat: Why Lean Meat Needs a Softer Red

07/04/2024

A slow roasted goat shoulder in a braising dish beside a glass of red wine

Goat is one of the leanest meats there is, so it cannot soften a big tannic red. Grenache, Tempranillo and off dry Riesling work better. Here is how to pair by the pot.

Wine Pairing With Lamb Burgers: What to Pour (and What to Avoid)

05/04/2024

Grilled lamb burger on a wooden board next to a glass of red wine

Lamb burgers need juicy fruit and soft tannin, not a big grippy red. Here is what to pour, what to avoid, and one stock-checked Barossa GSM to try tonight.

Ratatouille and Wine: What to Pour (and What to Avoid)

28/03/2024

A pot of ratatouille beside a glass of dry rose wine

Ratatouille has no meat and plenty of tomato acid, which is why big reds fail. Here is what works, version by version, plus one stock-checked Australian bottle.

Meatloaf Wine Pairing: What to Pour for Beef or Turkey

27/03/2024

A glass of red wine beside a sliced glazed meatloaf on a wooden board

Grenache, Merlot or Barbera are the best wines for meatloaf. The mince is not the hard part, the sweet and salty glaze on top is.

Barossa Valley Wine Region: Old Vines, Big Shiraz and Where to Start

16/03/2024

Ancient gnarled Shiraz vine in a Barossa Valley vineyard at sunset

The Barossa has the oldest vines on earth, and a charter that sorts them into four tiers by age. What the region tastes like, five cellar doors and one bottle.

Which Wine Pairs With Lamb? A Cut-by-Cut Guide

03/01/2024

Carved roast leg of lamb on a platter beside a glass of red wine

Lamb is the friendliest red meat for wine, but the cut changes the answer. Roast leg, rack, shanks, kebabs and curry, each with the wine that fits.

Meatloaf Wine Pairing: What to Pour (and What to Avoid)

02/01/2024

Sliced glazed meatloaf on a dark platter with a glass of red wine beside it

The best wine with meatloaf is a soft, fruity red: Merlot first, then juicy Shiraz, Zinfandel or Grenache. Why the glaze is the tricky bit, what to avoid, and a stock-checked bottle for tonight.

Clare Valley Wine Region: Riesling Country, Two Hours North

08/12/2023

Clare Valley vineyard rows over low hills with a stone cottage

Australia’s best Riesling country, the valley that talked the world into screwcaps, five cellar doors and a 35 kilometre trail you can ride between them.

Best Wine for Mulled Wine: 9 Reds That Work (and What to Avoid)

03/12/2023

A steaming glass mug of mulled wine with an orange slice and cinnamon stick, spices scattered on a dark wooden table

The best wine for mulled wine is cheap, fruity and low in tannin. Nine reds that work, the ones to avoid, a stock-checked bottle, our basic recipe with three twists and the standard-drinks maths.

Best Wine With Pizza: What to Pour for Every Topping

30/11/2023

Neapolitan margherita pizza on a board beside a glass of red wine

Salt, acid, fat and char all fight your wine at once. Here is what to pour for margherita, pepperoni, mushroom and white pizza, and what to leave shut.