Banrock Station Sparkling Shiraz

I do like a bottle of wine now and again (and again) and I like to sample new wines but usually I do not feel expert enough to write very meaningful reviews about them. However, I have decided to write about “Banrock Station Sparkling Shiraz” from Australia because it represents a discovery of an oddity that I think you should try. You may love it or hate it but you will have to admit it is different. And why is it different? Well - because as you may have guessed from it's name “Banrock Station Sparkling Shiraz” is a "Sparkling RED Wine" and you don't see many of them! Apparently this idea of ... more

I had some (a lot, really) of this last night. I originally discovered it about eighteen months ago in Sainsburys - it was on special offer. I think it normally sells for around £8.00 per bottle but Sainsbury were doing it for about £4.99. It was around Hallowee'n time , as I remember. We had some friends around and that was the first time I tried it - but not the last. I ADORE a good red but had a few reservations about a SPARKLING red. I served it in a champagne flute (looked more impressive and also keeps it bubbly, I think). One of my friends wasn't keen, I don't think they could get their ... more

My partner and I first discovered this wine at a party at a friend's home. My initial reaction was slightly dubious, and I thought that maybe this wine may be more of a gimmick, rather than a particularly good wine. The wine was served chilled, in champagne flutes on a balmy summer's evening in my friend's garden. The taste sensation is certainly very different from anything I've had before, and it took me a good few sips to decide whether I liked it or not. Once you get over the initial shock to your taste buds, you can taste the wonderfully fruity, yet rounded flavour. Being quite a light & ... more

I just love wines from Austrailia!!This sparkling wine is fantastic.It has a crimson red color that makes the fruity taste even more understated as a shiraz. I do recomend serving it chilled, as is recomended on the label. Don't be afraid to serve a red wine chilled!There is a few other red wines that are great chilled, but this is the first from Austrailia that passes the test. I recomend that you serve this as you would a champagne, in a flluted glass! Some people do not enjoy or believe in a red wine chilled and to those persons I say TRY IT!!What have you got to lose? Banrock Station is ... more

I like most Australian red wine - I'm not a wine expert and don't go in for all that silly sniffing mouth swilling and slurping. I also don't believe that wine should only be drunk with matching food - a nice wine is a nice wine - this one is surprisingly refreshing as well as being a typical full bodied shiraz - its a good Sunday lunch wine or barbeque wine or just for relaxing watching a good movie. You just know when you like something! If you like a nice rich red then this is for you and you get the novelty value of a champagne like pop when you open it and a pink frothy head when you pour ... more