Price Drop: House of Noir Black de Black Sparkling Shiraz NV

Sparkling Shiraz is a uniquely Australian style that combines the rich, dark fruit flavours of Shiraz grapes with effervescence, creating a wine that's both celebratory and substantial. Unlike traditional sparkling wines made from white grapes, this style offers bold blackcurrant and spice notes while maintaining the festive bubbles. The McLaren Vale region is particularly renowned for producing exceptional sparkling reds due to its warm climate and ideal soil conditions for Shiraz cultivation.

This sparkling Shiraz bridges the gap between red wine lovers and sparkling wine enthusiasts, making it an ideal crowd-pleaser for diverse palates. Its medium body and complex flavour profile of blackcurrant, boiled lollies, and spice appeals to both traditional red wine drinkers and those who prefer lighter, more celebratory styles. The wine's versatility with food pairings means it complements everything from roasted meats to desserts, eliminating the guesswork of wine selection for hosts.

NV stands for 'Non-Vintage,' meaning this wine is a blend of grapes from multiple years rather than a single harvest. This approach allows winemakers to create a consistent house style by balancing the characteristics of different vintages, often resulting in more complex and harmonious flavours. For sparkling wines, NV blending is particularly beneficial as it ensures reliability and allows producers to maintain their signature taste profile year after year.

Serve this sparkling Shiraz slightly chilled at around 12-14°C to enhance its fruit flavours while preserving the bubbles' liveliness. Unlike traditional sparkling wines that are served very cold, sparkling reds benefit from a slightly warmer temperature to showcase their complex spice and blackcurrant notes. Store bottles on their side in a cool, dark place, and once opened, consume within 2-3 days as the bubbles will gradually dissipate.

The wine's rich blackcurrant and spice notes make it exceptional with barbecued meats, particularly lamb and beef, while its effervescence cuts through rich, fatty dishes beautifully. The boiled lollies character adds a subtle sweetness that pairs wonderfully with chocolate desserts or even spicy Asian cuisine. Its medium body and complex structure also make it surprisingly good with aged cheeses and charcuterie, offering more pairing flexibility than most sparkling wines.