Fran.K Preservative Free Shiraz 2025: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Juicy, Crunchy New-Wave Red

Fran.K Preservative Free Shiraz 2025 is a bright, modern take on Shiraz, filled with fragrant red fruit rather than heavy oak. Raspberry liquorice and red cherry lead into juicy plum and redcurrant, supported by savoury tannins and a fresh, dry finish. It has enough depth for dinner, yet remains lively and approachable enough for a relaxed midweek glass.

Highlights

• Vegan suitable and made with no added preservatives
• Crafted by Fran.K founders Frances Kentwell and Nicole Braiser
• Raspberry liquorice, red cherry, plum and redcurrant
• Sustainably grown fruit handled with minimal intervention
• Extended time on malolactic lees helps soften the palate
• 14.0% ABV

Tasting Notes

Vibrant raspberry liquorice and red cherry rise from the glass, followed by juicy plum and tart redcurrant. The palate is dry and medium-to-full bodied, with bright fruit, fresh acidity and a generous backbone of savoury, finely grippy tannins. There is no heavy oakiness to mask the fruit, leaving a lively Shiraz with good structure, a touch of peppery warmth and a clean, moreish finish.

Winemaking

The Shiraz grapes were hand-picked, destemmed and crushed before fermentation in stainless-steel tanks. Gentle pump-overs were carried out twice daily to extract colour and tannin without overworking the fruit. The wine completed malolactic fermentation in tank and remained on its malolactic lees for an extended period, helping to soften the texture. It was made without added preservatives or other additions, keeping the expression fresh, direct and fruit-focused.

Vineyard & Vintage

The fruit comes from sustainably managed vineyard parcels selected for freshness and clear varietal character. The 2025 wine is presented as a vibrant, youthful expression of Shiraz, with ripe red and dark fruit balanced by natural freshness and savoury structure. Careful vineyard selection is especially important for preservative-free winemaking, where clean, healthy grapes provide the foundation for stability and flavour.

Why We Love It

This is Shiraz with energy and personality rather than layers of sweet oak. The raspberry liquorice note is particularly appealing, while plum, redcurrant and savoury tannins give it enough depth to handle hearty food. It is also a useful choice for anyone seeking a vegan, no-added-preservative red that still has genuine structure and unmistakable Shiraz character.

Food Pairing

The combination of juicy fruit, moderate acidity and savoury tannins works beautifully with grilled meat, tomato-based dishes and earthy vegetarian cooking.

Try matching this wine with →

• Chargrilled lamb with rosemary and garlic — Find a Recipe
• Mushroom and lentil shepherd’s pie — Find a Recipe
• Spicy Italian sausage and tomato pasta — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Open this when dinner calls for a proper red, but you still want something vibrant and uncomplicated. It is equally at home beside a Friday-night pasta, a casual BBQ or a generously loaded grazing table.

Cellaring

Enjoy now to capture the bright red fruit and youthful vitality, or cellar carefully for up to three years. Preservative-free wines are best stored in a consistently cool, dark place away from temperature fluctuations. Once opened, refrigerate immediately and enjoy within one to two days.

Producer

Fran.K creates sustainably grown, naturally made wines designed to make minimal-intervention styles straightforward and enjoyable. Founded by wine professionals Frances Kentwell and Nicole Braiser, the label works with small parcels of fruit and takes a light-handed approach in the winery. The Shiraz is listed by Organic Wine as a McLaren Vale wine and is fermented in stainless steel, with gentle extraction and extended time on malolactic lees rather than a heavy reliance on oak or additions. Fran.K also supports Women and Revolution, an association working towards stronger gender balance across the wine industry.

Related Wines To Try →

Explore three more vibrant Shiraz wines made without added preservatives:

• Plush McLaren Vale fruit with soft, rounded tannins — The Hero Preservative Free Shiraz
• Certified organic Shiraz with blackberry and peppery spice — Tamburlaine Preservative Free Shiraz
• Organic Central Ranges Shiraz with raspberry and vanilla spice — The Natural Wine Co Organic NAP Shiraz

FAQ

What does Fran.K Preservative Free Shiraz taste like?

It opens with raspberry liquorice and red cherry, followed by plum, redcurrant and gentle peppery warmth. The palate is dry, juicy and medium-to-full bodied, with savoury tannins and a fresh, fruit-driven finish.

Is this a sweet or dry Shiraz?

This is a dry red wine, although the ripe plum and cherry fruit can give a naturally generous impression. Its fresh acidity and savoury tannins keep the palate balanced rather than sweet.

How full-bodied and tannic is it?

Fran.K Shiraz sits between medium and full-bodied. The tannins provide noticeable structure and a lightly grippy savoury edge, but extended time on malolactic lees helps make the wine more approachable.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This wine is classified as No Added Preservative, meaning sulphur dioxide has not been added during production. Small amounts of sulphites may still occur naturally as a result of fermentation.

Is Fran.K Preservative Free Shiraz vegan friendly?

Yes, the wine is listed as vegan suitable. It is made without animal-derived processing aids and without added preservatives or additions.

How should I serve this Shiraz?

Serve it at around 16–18°C in a medium or large red-wine glass. On a warm Australian evening, place the bottle in the fridge for about 15 minutes before pouring to keep the fruit bright and the alcohol balanced.

Should I decant it before drinking?

A short 20-minute decant will help the raspberry, cherry and plum aromas open and allow the youthful tannins to relax. It can also be enjoyed directly from the bottle, particularly when served with food.

What food pairs best with this wine?

Try it with grilled lamb, tomato-rich pasta, sausages, burgers or roast vegetables. Earthy vegetarian meals such as mushroom pie, lentil shepherd’s pie and grilled eggplant suit its savoury tannins particularly well.

Can this preservative-free Shiraz be cellared?

It is designed primarily for vibrant drinking while young, but careful cellaring for up to three years is reasonable. Store it below 18°C in a dark place with a stable temperature, and refrigerate promptly after opening.

Who will enjoy this wine most?

It will appeal to drinkers who enjoy fruit-forward Shiraz with less oak and a fresh, modern shape. If you like juicy McLaren Vale reds, minimal-intervention wines or medium-bodied Shiraz with visible tannin, this should sit comfortably in your glass.

(SKU: FK_SH_CV)