The Hero Preservative Free Shiraz: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → BBQ-Friendly Backyard Sipper

The Hero Preservative Free Shiraz 2025 is plush, juicy and instantly likeable — a dark-fruited shiraz with smooth spice and an easy, warming finish. It’s dry, generous and made for relaxed catch-ups, BBQs and “what’s for dinner?” nights when you want a red that just works.

Highlights

• Preservative Free (no added preservatives / no added sulphites)
• Crafted by The Hero — an easy-drinking, great-value preservative-free range
• Blackberry, plum, dark cherry + gentle peppery spice
• McLaren Vale fruit for ripe flavour and balanced freshness
• 91 points – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
• 13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Deep crimson in the glass, this shiraz leads with ripe blackberry, plum and dark cherry, followed by gentle black pepper, a hint of cocoa and a whisper of savoury spice. The palate is dry and medium-to-full bodied, with soft, rounded tannins and a smooth, juicy finish that feels warming without getting heavy.

Winemaking

Made in a fruit-forward style to keep things plush and approachable. Fermented to dryness for a clean finish, then handled gently to preserve aromatics and smooth the tannins. Oak influence is subtle, adding background spice rather than smoky dominance, so the dark-fruit shiraz character stays the star.

Vineyard & Vintage

Sourced from McLaren Vale, where sunshine builds rich dark-fruit flavour while cooler evening temperatures help retain freshness and balance. That regional combination suits this easy modern shiraz style, giving it ripe flavour without losing drinkability.

Why We Love It

It does exactly what this style should do: juicy shiraz flavour, smooth texture and a preservative-free finish that keeps it clean and easy to enjoy. This is the bottle to reach for when you want a red that works with food, company and very little effort.

Food Pairing

This is a natural match for BBQ favourites, smoky spices and comfort-food classics. The dark fruit and gentle peppery spice love anything charred, roasted or slow-cooked. Try matching this wine with →

• BBQ lamb chops — Find a Recipe
• Vegetarian chilli — Find a Recipe
• Sausage tray bake with veggies — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Warm, generous and easy-going — the kind of red that suits BBQs, shared dinners and a table full of people who all want something satisfying.

Cellaring

Best enjoyed young while the fruit is bright. Drink now to 1–2 years. If you’d like it even softer, give it 15–20 minutes in a decanter.

Producer

The Hero Preservative Free range focuses on easy-drinking wines with clear varietal flavour, broad appeal and no added preservatives. The wines are made to be straightforward, reliable and genuinely enjoyable, rather than overworked or overly serious. In this Shiraz, that means ripe McLaren Vale fruit, a clean dry finish, and a style that keeps the dark fruit and spice front and centre. It is a practical, weeknight-friendly wine with real drinking value.

Related Wines To Try →

If you like this plush preservative-free Shiraz style, these are worth comparing:

• Another preservative-free Shiraz with a bit more depth — Organic Hill Preservative Free Shiraz
• McLaren Vale preservative-free Shiraz from a leading biodynamic producer — Yangarra Preservative Free Shiraz
• Value-driven preservative-free red in a softer style — The Hero Preservative Free Grenache

FAQ

What does The Hero Preservative Free Shiraz taste like?

It shows ripe blackberry, plum and dark cherry with gentle peppery spice, a touch of cocoa and a savoury edge. The palate is dry, smooth and juicy, with soft tannins and an easy warming finish.

Is this wine preservative-free?

Yes. It is listed as No Added Preservative on the product page. That means no sulphites have been added, although tiny naturally occurring sulphites can still be present from fermentation.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This is a No Added Preservative wine. The specs list total SO₂ at 6 ppm, which is consistent with naturally occurring sulphites only.

Is this Shiraz dry?

Yes, fully dry. The specs list 0.2 g/L residual sugar, which sits firmly in the dry range. It tastes like a dry red, with fruit generosity rather than sweetness.

How full-bodied is it?

This sits in the medium-to-full-bodied range. It has enough fruit and warmth to feel generous, but the softer tannins keep it easy to drink.

Should I decant it?

A short decant of 15 to 20 minutes works well if you want the aromatics and texture to open a little more. It is also very easy to drink straight from the bottle.

What temperature and glassware work best?

Serve it around 16–18°C in a medium to large red wine glass. That gives the fruit and spice enough room while keeping the wine fresh.

Is The Hero Preservative Free Shiraz vegan?

Yes, it is listed as vegan suitable on the product page. That makes it a straightforward option if you are looking for both a vegan red and a no-added-preservative wine.

What food works best with this wine?

BBQ meats, sausages, lamb, burgers, smoky vegetables and hearty vegetarian dishes all suit it well. The juicy dark fruit and peppery spice make it very useful with charred or roasted food.

Who is this wine likely to suit?

It will suit drinkers who enjoy plush, easy-drinking Shiraz with dark fruit and soft tannins. If you like smooth, generous reds for dinner or casual weekends, this lands right in that zone.

(SKU: HZ_SHI_CV)