Nine Stones Shiraz Hilltops

Nine Stones Shiraz Hilltops is a 100% Shiraz from Southern New South Wales's Hilltops region, available in a standard 750ml bottle. Produced entirely from estate-grown fruit by Calabria Family Wines, this expression has earned up to 88 points from Wine Enthusiast for its concentrated dark-fruit character and fine-grained tannin structure drawn from the region's distinctive granite and basalt soils.

Quick Facts: ABV: Approx. 14% (varies by vintage)  |  Origin: Hilltops, Southern New South Wales, Australia  |  100% Shiraz  |  Producer: Calabria Family Wines

Production & Heritage

Nine Stones originated under the Evans Family before Calabria Family Wines acquired the brand in 2010, bringing the label into a portfolio with deep roots in Australian winemaking. All fruit is estate-grown in the Hilltops sub-region, a high-altitude area of Southern New South Wales where the terrain sits atop a massive granite shelf. Over millions of years, this granite has weathered into deep topsoil — rich, dark red clays impregnated with basalt and stained by ironstone sand blown in from Australia's Red Centre. The wine is vinified and bottled entirely on site, giving the winemaking team full control from vine to cork. This geological profile gives Hilltops Shiraz a mineral backbone and concentrated fruit intensity that distinguishes it from warmer-climate Australian Shiraz regions.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The bouquet opens with ripe boysenberry and plum, followed by layers of black cherry and chocolate-mint. Subtle oak spice and a thread of white pepper emerge as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is generous with sweet, fleshy dark fruit — plum and black cherry dominate the early palate. At mid-palate, mild minerality and black olive nuances surface, balanced by fine-grained, persistent tannins that provide structure without astringency. The fruit stays expressive throughout, supported by that sandy, grippy tannin texture characteristic of the Hilltops terroir.

Finish: Long and supple, with lingering plum and hints of black pepper trailing into a gentle earthiness. The tannins resolve cleanly, leaving a savoury, satisfying close.

How to Drink Nine Stones Shiraz

This Shiraz drinks well at cellar temperature (16–18°C / 60–65°F) with no decanting strictly required, though 20–30 minutes of air can soften younger vintages. It also holds up well in bold red-wine cocktails. A Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) plays off the wine's natural sweetness and dark-fruit profile. A Red Wine Sangria built with stone fruits and a dash of brandy complements the boysenberry and plum character. A simple Shiraz Spritz — chilled wine over ice with sparkling water and a strip of orange peel — makes a refreshing warm-weather pour that highlights the pepper and fruit notes.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners featuring grilled lamb or beef
• Introducing someone to Australian Shiraz beyond the mass-market labels
• Building an affordable cellar of cool-climate NSW wines
• Pairing sessions exploring Australian regional terroir differences

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Nine Stones Shiraz taste like? Nine Stones Hilltops Shiraz is driven by ripe plum and black cherry fruit, layered with chocolate-mint, white pepper, and a mild mineral undertone, all framed by fine-grained, persistent tannins and a long, supple finish.

How does Nine Stones Shiraz compare to Penfolds Grange? Penfolds Grange is Australia's benchmark ultra-premium Shiraz and occupies an entirely different price and prestige tier. Nine Stones demonstrates that Hilltops can deliver concentrated, terroir-expressive Shiraz with genuine regional character at a far more accessible entry point in the Australian Shiraz category.

Is Nine Stones Shiraz good for sipping neat? Yes — its fleshy mid-palate, balanced tannins, and layered dark-fruit profile make it a satisfying straight pour, especially when served at cellar temperature around 16–18°C.

Where is Nine Stones Shiraz made? Nine Stones Shiraz is produced by Calabria Family Wines in the Hilltops region of Southern New South Wales, Australia, a high-altitude area known for its deep red granite-clay soils over a basalt substructure.

What foods pair well with Nine Stones Shiraz? Grilled lamb chops work well with the wine's peppery notes. Slow-braised beef short ribs mirror its richness and dark-fruit sweetness. Hard aged cheeses like mature cheddar complement the tannin structure. Mushroom risotto echoes the earthy, mineral undertones. Dark chocolate desserts pick up on the chocolate-mint aromatics.

What sizes does Nine Stones Shiraz come in? Nine Stones Shiraz Hilltops is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Nine Stones Shiraz worth the price? Nine Stones positions as an entry-level to mid-range Australian Shiraz that delivers above-average regional specificity for its tier, with Wine Enthusiast scores of up to 88 points supporting its reputation as a solid value expression from Hilltops.

Why Nine Stones Shiraz?

What sets this wine apart is its origin on some of the most geologically distinctive soil in Australian viticulture — ancient granite weathered into deep red clay laced with basalt, producing a mineral signature that cheaper warm-climate Shiraz cannot replicate. The 100% estate-grown, estate-bottled production model means consistency vintage to vintage, with no reliance on purchased fruit. Multiple Wine Enthusiast scores between 85 and 88 points confirm this is a label that delivers reliably. For anyone exploring what Australian Shiraz tastes like outside the Barossa and McLaren Vale mainstream, Hilltops — and Nine Stones specifically — represents an underappreciated regional voice worth hearing.