Shiraz Still Reigns: De Bortoli’s Pepper & Spice Shiraz Joins the Market

Media Release, March 2026

De Bortoli Wines is expanding its successful flavour-led range with the release of Pepper & Spice Shiraz, a bold, aromatic red that leans confidently into everything Australians love about Shiraz and delivers exactly it. The release builds on the success of Buttery Chardonnay, the first wine in De Bortoli’s flavour-led range, marking the next chapter in its flavour-led approach.

Shiraz remains one of Australia’s most widely planted winegrape varieties, making up nearly 40% of the total Australian red wine market, with around 14.6 million litres produced annually*. As the clear leader in the category, it’s no surprise Australians continue to favour bold, flavour-driven Shiraz, a style Pepper & Spice Shiraz embraces with confidence. Bursting with juicy plum and blackberry, cracked black pepper and warm spice, it is balanced by a smooth, generous finish that makes the second glass inevitable. Deep maroon in colour, it opens with lifted dark fruit and spice aromatics before delivering a concentrated palate of blue fruits and subtle chocolate. Coating tannins provide structure and length while maintaining approachability.

Winemaker Roberto Delgado says the intention with the wine was clear from the outset: “Shiraz is Australia’s signature red, and we wanted to create a wine that celebrates everything people already love about the style. With Pepper & Spice, we didn’t want to shy away from intensity. We wanted to embrace it. It’s bold and full-bodied, but it finishes smooth. It’s a wine with presence.”

Designed for red wine drinkers who enjoy bold, approachable styles, Pepper & Spice Shiraz appeals to consumers seeking flavour-forward and expressive red wines. In response to shoppers drawn to clear flavour cues and modern labels, De Bortoli has intentionally included recognisable flavour descriptors on-pack to help consumers easily identify wines that match their taste preferences. By clearly communicating the wine’s style at shelf, Pepper & Spice Shiraz removes unnecessary complexity and supports confident purchase decisions.

Ideal for sharing and casual occasions, it pairs seamlessly with grilled meats, roasted dishes, hearty pasta, pizza or burgers, but is equally satisfying on its own. With its generous palate and clearly defined style, it simplifies the path from shelf to glass.

Pepper & Spice Shiraz embodies the best of Rutherglen: expressive fruit, balanced structure, and unmistakable character. With this release, De Bortoli Wines continues to champion flavour-led winemaking, pairing regional character with clarity of style to create wines that are expressive, accessible, and unmistakably Australian.

Winemaker Notes

REGION: Rutherglen, Australia

WINEMAKER: Roberto Delgado

SEASON: Rutherglen experienced a wetter than average spring and very mild yet consistent temperatures.  This resulted in ideal growing conditions in which the vines flourished. These conditions continued into December and January but without any extreme events. The season started one week earlier than average with all whites coming in disease free yet with good varietal flavours due to the cooler season. From the start of February there was no significant rainfall and the temperatures stayed consistently warmer than average. As the season progressed and the vineyards continued to dry out, the red grapes became more concentrated and intense, whilst still maintaining their freshness. All reds were picked in optimal condition  and the 2024 vintage promises to be one of the standout vintages of the last 10 years.

TASTING NOTE: Deep maroon with bright red hues. Dark fruit aromas are layered with hints of pepper and Spice, leading to a concentrated palate of blue fruits and rich chocolate, supported by  coating tannins for a  long, textured finish.

WINEMAKING: Harvesting of the fruit at the optimum flavour ripeness in the vineyard is essential to obtain the desired Shiraz varietal flavours to produce this wine. The fruit was crushed/destemmed into fermentation vats for fermentation over the next 7-10 days at  approximately 25ºC to maximise flavour and colour extraction. The wine was then underwent  maturation for 3 months with a combination of American and French oak.

WINE ANALYSIS: Alc/Vol: 14.99%, pH: 3.56, TA: 6.63 g/L

CELLARING: A terrific wine to drink now, but also has cellaring potential for the next 2-3 years.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Vegan, Vegetarian

FOOD RECOMMENDATION: Accompanies herb basted rotisserie lamb and BBQ T-Bone steaks 

perfectly!

SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION: Sustainable Winegrowing Australia

 

-ENDS-
Media Contact: Kruti Shetty
kruti_shetty@debortoli.com.au 

About De Bortoli 
De Bortoli Wines is a family wine company established in 1928, and today is under the custodianship of the third generation, Darren, Leanne, Kevin and Victor De Bortoli. Theirs is a story of a hardworking and innovative family who considered good wine, good food and good friends to be part of everyday life. De Bortoli's philosophy is that great wine begins in the vineyard and should reflect the region where the grapes that made it are grown. For further information: debortoli.com.au.

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De Bortoli Wines supports the Responsible Service of Alcohol. New South Wales: Liquor Act 2007. It is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of, a person under the age of 18 years. Victoria: WARNING: Victoria Liquor Control Reform Act 1998: It is an offence to supply alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years (Penalty exceeds $7,000), for a person under the age of 18 years to purchase or receive liquor (Penalty exceeds $600). Western Australia: WARNING. Under the Liquor Control Act 1988, it is an offence: to sell or supply liquor to a person under the age of 18 years on licensed or regulated premises; or for a person under the age of 18 years to purchase, or attempt to purchase, liquor on licensed or regulated premises. Licence No. 6160101437. Type of licence - Wholesalers. Name of licensee – De Bortoli Wines (Australia) Pty Ltd. Address – Unit 55 / Level 2, 15 Labouchere Road South Perth WA, Telephone number 03 9237 7313. South Australia: Liquor Licensing Act 1997, Section 113. Liquor must NOT be supplied to persons under 18. Queensland: Under the Liquor Act 1992, it is an offence to supply liquor to a person under the age of 18 years. Licence Number: 356979 Address of licensed Premises: De Bortoli Road, Bilbul NSW 2680, Telephone of Licensed Premises: 02 6966 0100 ABN 77 000 146 672