19 Crimes Red Wine

19 Crimes Red Wine is a Shiraz-dominant Australian red blend bottled at approximately 13.5% ABV in a standard 750ml bottle. Produced by Treasury Wine Estates, one of the world's largest wine companies, this label has become one of the best-selling Australian red blends in the United States, driven by its bold flavor profile and distinctive convict-themed branding featuring augmented reality labels.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: South Eastern Australia  |  Style: Red Blend  |  Winery: Treasury Wine Estates

Production & Heritage

The 19 Crimes brand draws its name from the eighteen crimes (later expanded to nineteen) that could sentence British convicts to penal transportation to Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries. Treasury Wine Estates, headquartered in Melbourne and responsible for labels such as Penfolds and Wolf Blass, launched the 19 Crimes range to bring approachable, fruit-forward Australian reds to a broad audience. The Red Wine expression is built on a Shiraz-dominant blend — typically around 86% Shiraz with smaller portions of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, though exact proportions may shift between vintages. A defining production choice is the use of 100% American oak for aging, which imparts pronounced vanilla and caramel sweetness that distinguishes this wine from Australian reds aged in French oak or stainless steel.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with sweet vanilla and ripe blackberries, followed by darker notes of fudge and toasty oak. A subtle red plum and raspberry undertone emerges as the wine breathes.

Taste: On the palate, dark cherry and blackberry fruit arrive immediately, layered with milk chocolate and warm baking spice at mid-palate. Caramel and vanilla from the American oak aging provide a sweet, rounded framework. The wine is medium-bodied with soft tannins and moderate acidity, making it approachable and easy to drink.

Finish: The finish is smooth and moderate in length, trailing off with gentle oak, a touch of candied raspberry, and lingering vanilla. There is no harsh grip or astringency — the wine fades cleanly.

How to Drink 19 Crimes Red

This red blend drinks well at a slight chill — around 60–65°F — which tempers the sweetness and lifts the fruit character. It is straightforward enough for casual sipping but also works in wine-based mixed drinks. A Kalimotxo (red wine and cola over ice) plays into the wine's existing sweetness with surprising balance. A classic Sangria benefits from the dark berry fruit and spice, making this an ideal base when combined with citrus and brandy. A Red Wine Spritzer with sparkling water and a squeeze of orange keeps things light for warm-weather drinking.

Best For

• Casual weeknight dinners where an easy-drinking red is all you need
• Backyard barbecues and cookouts paired with grilled meats
• Introducing new wine drinkers to Australian Shiraz blends
• Themed gatherings — the augmented reality label is a reliable conversation starter

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 19 Crimes Red taste like? It is a fruit-forward, medium-bodied red wine with prominent dark cherry, blackberry, and vanilla flavors supported by toasty American oak, chocolate, and baking spice. The overall impression is smooth and moderately sweet with soft tannins.

How does 19 Crimes Red compare to Yellow Tail Jammy Red Roo? Both are value-tier Australian reds designed for easy drinking, but 19 Crimes leans more heavily into oak-driven vanilla and chocolate notes from its American oak aging, while Yellow Tail Jammy Red Roo tends to be jammier and more overtly fruity with less oak influence. The 19 Crimes blend also carries slightly more structure from its Shiraz-dominant composition.

Is 19 Crimes Red good for beginners? Yes — its soft tannins, moderate body, and fruit-forward sweetness make it one of the more approachable Australian red blends on the market, well-suited to drinkers who are still developing a palate for red wine.

Where is 19 Crimes Red made? It is produced by Treasury Wine Estates using grapes sourced from the South Eastern Australia geographical indication, a broad wine region encompassing vineyards across New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.

What foods pair well with 19 Crimes Red? Grilled burgers and sausages complement the smoky oak and dark fruit. Barbecue ribs with a sweet glaze echo the wine's vanilla and caramel notes. Aged cheddar or Gouda amplify the toasty richness. Pepperoni or meat-lover's pizza matches the wine's weight and spice. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the cocoa tones from the American oak aging.

What sizes does 19 Crimes Red come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle, and it is also commonly available in 375ml half-bottles and occasionally in 1.5L magnum format depending on market availability.

Is 19 Crimes Red worth the price? 19 Crimes Red positions firmly in the value tier of Australian red wines, delivering a reliably smooth, oak-aged Shiraz blend at an entry-level price point that competes well against other mass-market Australian labels.

Why 19 Crimes Red?

The use of 100% American oak aging is the production detail that most clearly separates this wine from its value-tier Australian competitors, many of which rely on stainless steel or French oak. That oak regimen is responsible for the vanilla-rich, caramel-laced sweetness that defines the wine's character and broadens its appeal well beyond traditional Shiraz drinkers. With a Vivino community rating of 3.8 out of 5 and consistently strong consumer reviews, the Red Wine expression has proven its commercial staying power as one of the top-selling Australian imports. For drinkers seeking a crowd-pleasing, fruit-forward red with genuine oak complexity at an accessible price, this remains a dependable choice in a crowded category.