RedHeads greets Partners and delivers the terrific 1888 Shiraz 2024

Your case of RedHeads 1888 Shiraz 2024 

This year’s release, which landed on UK shores in February, is the 2024 and it’s almost as big a showstopper. Small yields this time were due to the unusually cool, dry winter and early spring, followed by unwelcome strong winds during flowering. December rains were a blessing, topping up the water levels ready for the hot finale of the season, January to March. And late January delivered that, providing the perfect weather for producing healthy ripe berries. To sum it up: “amazing quality fruit ... just not a lot of it,” said Darren. So after the slightly gentler 2023 edition, the 1888 is back on big, bold form.

The 2024 vintage of 1888 sticks to the ‘recipe’ that works so successfully. About 95% of the fruit comes from RedHeads’ own 30‑year‑old vines just outside the cellar door, with a cheeky splash from Debs and Matt Poole’s legendary Light Pass block ... these precious vines have struggled on for more than 90 years.    Each small batch is individually made the old-school way, with the cap plunged down by hand, as it gently ferments. It’s a fair workout – puts a bit of muscle into the wine and whoever’s doing the plunging (that will be Darren)! Post ferment, the wine rested in barrel – 75% French oak, the rest American, with just 10–20% of the wood new or near‑new. That ratio seems to hit the sweet spot, giving the wine just the right kick of toasty oaky spice and complexity.

redheads’ own vineyard

When we first took ownership of RedHeads in 2016, there was already a vineyard planted on the plot, which today is 30 years old. There was also a chunk of diseased Chardonnay, which the team grubbed up and replaced with high-quality Shiraz. This is now showing really well. Go three years back and they added a little Durif, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a small amount of Touriga, a Portuguese variety that, when the conditions are right, shows really well out in the Barossa. Touriga is a late ripener by nature and prone to ‘sulking’ if the conditions get too dry. Excitingly 2025 performed brilliantly and 2026, fingers crossed, looks like it might match it for quality. Touriga is a bit of a favourite with the team, especially since they won a Trophy at the Barossa wine show for their Touriga 2022 from a small patch planted just in 2019.  

The Australian wine scene

Like much of the rest of the world, the Australian wine industry is currently having a tough time thanks to the global shifts in drinking habits and the rising cost of living squeezing demand. But on a very positive note, quality coming from South Australia is better than ever with the release of the 2024 vintage and the promise of the 2025 vintage. That will land in February 2027 for RedHeads 1888 fans.