19 Crimes The Uprising Red Wine

19 Crimes The Uprising Red Wine is a bold, rum barrel-aged Australian red blend bottled at 15% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Scoring 88 points on Wine-Searcher for both the 2020 and 2021 vintages, this Shiraz-dominant blend stands out for its 30-day rum barrel aging — a production step that pays direct tribute to Australia's historical Rum Rebellion of 1808.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15%  |  Origin: South Eastern Australia  |  Style: Rum Barrel-Aged Red Blend  |  Producer: Treasury Wine Estates

Production & Heritage

19 Crimes is produced by Treasury Wine Estates, one of Australia's largest wine companies headquartered in Melbourne. The Uprising expression is built on a blend of 86% Shiraz, 7% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, all sourced from South Eastern Australia. What distinguishes this wine from the rest of the 19 Crimes lineup is its 30-day maturation in rum barrels, a technique that layers additional sweetness, spice, and complexity over the fruit-forward Shiraz base. The rum barrel treatment is a deliberate nod to Australia's Rum Rebellion — the 1808 military coup in New South Wales partly fueled by the colony's rum trade — tying the wine's production story directly to its convict-history branding.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with rich mocha and dark chocolate, followed by ripe blackberry and a wave of caramel sweetness. Underneath, subtle notes of brown sugar and warm cinnamon emerge as the wine breathes.

Taste: The entry is dense and jammy, with blackberry and dark currant fruit coating the palate immediately. At mid-palate, oaky vanilla and rum-influenced caramel build intensity, while cedar and tobacco add structure. The 15% ABV delivers noticeable warmth without becoming overly hot, carrying the fruit and spice flavors to a concentrated peak.

Finish: Medium-long with a smoky, vanilla-laced tail and lingering dark berry sweetness. Faint tobacco and brown sugar notes persist, leaving a warm, rounded impression.

How to Drink The Uprising

At 15% ABV with bold, extracted flavors, The Uprising is best enjoyed at cool room temperature — around 60–65°F — in a large-bowled glass that allows the rum barrel character to open up. Its jammy sweetness and spice also make it an unexpectedly versatile cocktail ingredient. A Red Wine Sangria benefits from The Uprising's natural brown sugar and cinnamon notes, reducing the need for added sweetener. In a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola), the rum barrel vanilla plays well against the cola's caramel backbone. For a winter warmer, use it as the base for a Mulled Wine — the existing mocha and spice notes harmonize naturally with traditional mulling spices.

Best For

• Introducing rum or bourbon enthusiasts to bold red wine
• Backyard barbecue pairings with smoked or grilled meats
• Gifting to fans of full-bodied, fruit-forward Australian reds
• Winter fireside sipping or mulled wine preparation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Uprising taste like? The Uprising delivers intense jammy blackberry and dark currant flavors layered with mocha, caramel, and oaky vanilla, all shaped by its 30-day rum barrel aging. It finishes smoky and warm with lingering brown sugar and tobacco undertones.

How does The Uprising compare to 19 Crimes The Banished? Both sit within the 19 Crimes portfolio, but The Uprising is aged specifically in rum barrels for 30 days, giving it pronounced caramel and vanilla sweetness that The Banished — a dark red blend without the rum barrel treatment — does not share. The Uprising also carries a higher ABV at 15%, contributing to a fuller, warmer body.

Is The Uprising good for sipping neat? Yes — its dense fruit, mocha richness, and rum barrel sweetness make it well-suited to drinking on its own at cool room temperature, particularly for those who enjoy bold, high-ABV reds with noticeable oak influence.

Where is The Uprising made? The Uprising is produced by Treasury Wine Estates, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, using grapes sourced from the broad South Eastern Australia wine zone, which encompasses major growing regions across New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.

What foods pair well with The Uprising? Smoked beef brisket complements the wine's smoky vanilla finish. Barbecue ribs with a brown sugar glaze mirror its caramel sweetness. Dark chocolate desserts echo its mocha notes. Aged cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the jammy fruit. Lamb chops with rosemary work well against the cedar and tobacco undertones.

What sizes does The Uprising come in? The Uprising is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is The Uprising worth the price? The Uprising positions as an accessible, everyday-premium red blend — delivering rum barrel complexity and a distinctive production story that punches above its price tier, particularly for drinkers who appreciate bold, richly extracted Australian Shiraz blends.

Why The Uprising?

The 30-day rum barrel aging is the clear differentiator here — it is not a common technique in Australian winemaking, and it gives The Uprising a flavor profile that bridges the gap between traditional red wine and barrel-aged spirits. The 88-point Wine-Searcher scores across recent vintages confirm consistent quality, and the CellarTracker community average of 90 points for the 2020 vintage suggests strong consumer satisfaction. For drinkers who find standard Shiraz blends too one-dimensional, the rum barrel influence adds genuine depth — mocha, caramel, and brown sugar complexity that goes beyond simple fruit-and-oak winemaking. In a crowded field of Australian red blends, The Uprising earns its place by doing something genuinely different.