Durif red wine variety in Australia

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Like many grape varieties Durif is making a comeback after being overlooked in the rush by vignerons to get with the strength and concentrate on mainstream varieties.

But Durif is making a comeback; it is now much more widely used than in its old stronghold of Rutherglen. Some great red wines are now being made in many warmer Australian wine regions with the label proudly identifying the variety.

This red wine grape from the Rhone Valley is not highly regarded in its native France. It is named after its breeder who established the variety in the late nineteenth century. It was introduced into Australia by pionnering viticulturalist Francois de Castella in 1908.

The variety is planted in California under the name of Petite Sirah where there has been some confusion about the variety. Many vineyards have proved to have mixtures of Durif and Pelorisin. In California Petite Sirah has its own fan club PS I love you

In Australia, the CSIRO uses DNA fingerprinting to clear up confusion about similar grape varieties. They report that the clones imported to Australia are indeed Durif and not Peloursin.

Durif wines tend to have high levels of tannins and so are suitable for extended cellaring to allow the wines to come together. Modern winemakers of course aim to produce wines which will be drinkable much earlier so this may not be such a factor as it was in the past. However if you are looking for an subtle and understated red you should look elsewhere. The alcohol level in the wines is often in the 14-15% range, with flavour to match.

Durif wine and food

Enjoy Durif wines with rich stews and game dishes.

Wineries with Durif In Australia

919 Wines Riverland

All Saints Estate Rutherglen
Anderson Winery Rutherglen
Atse's Corner Wines Barossa
Battely Wines Beechworth
Beelgara Estate Riverina
Bellarine Estate Geelong
Boyntons Feathertop Alpine Valleys
Brown Brothers King Valley
Brumby Wines Swan Hill
Bullers Calliope Rutherglen
Calais Estate Hunter Valley
Campbells Wines Rutherglen
Cape Horn Vineyard Goulburn Valley
Ciavarella King Valley
Cofield Wines Rutherglen
Connor Park Bendigo
Currans Family Wines Murray Darling
Date Brothers Swan Hill
Domaine Asmara Heathcote
Dos Rios Swan Hill
Drinkmoor Wines Rutherglen
Lion Mill Perth Hills
Eumundi Winery Queensland Coastal
Folino Estate Alpine Valleys
Gapsted Alpine Valleys
Gehrig Estate Rutherglen
Golden Grove Estate Granite Belt
Heritage Estate Granite Belt
Jaengenya Wines Goulburn Valley
John Gehrig Wines King Valley
Judds Warby Range Estate Glenrowan
Kingston Estate Riverland
Lake Moodemere Rutherglen
Maleny Mountain Wines Queensland Coastal
Massena Wines Barossa Valley
Melange Wines Riverina
Michael Unwin Wines Grampians
Miranda Wines, Griffith Riverina
Miranda Riverina
Morris Rutherglen
Morrisons of Glenrowan Glenrowan
Mount Pilot Estate North East Victoria
Mount Prior Rutherglen
Mudgee Wines Mudgee
Myattsfield Vineyard and Winery Perth Hills
New Glory Goulburn Valley
Normanby Wines Queensland Zone
Nugan Estate King Valley
Oak Works Riverland
Paradine Estate Queensland Zone
Patrice Winery North East Victoria
Petersons Glenesk Estate Mudgee
Piako Vineyards Murray Darling
Pieter van Gent Mudgee
Piromit Wines Riverina
Pyren Vineyard Pyrenees
Reedy Creek Northern Slopes Zone
Renewan Swan Hill
Riverina Estate Wines Riverina
Rose Hill Estate Wines King Valley
Rothbury Ridge Hunter Valley
Rusticana Langhorne Creek
Rutherglen Estates Rutherglen
Sam Miranda Wines King Valley
Scion Vineyard Rutherglen
St Petrox Hunter Valley
Stanton and Killeen Wines Rutherglen
Steinborner Family Vineyards Barossa Valley
Taminick Cellars Glenrowan
Tawonga Vineyard Alpine Valleys
Tinonnee Vineyard Hunter Valley
Toolleen Vineyard Heathcote
Trahna Rutherglen Wines Rutherglen
Vale Vineyard Mornington Peninsula
Valhalla Wines Rutherglen
Vintara Rutherglen
Warrabilla Wines Rutherglen
Watchbox Wines Rutherglen
Wedgetail Ridge Estate Darling Downs
Westend Estate Riverina
Wirruna Estate North East Victoria
Witches Falls Winery Granite Belt
Yacca Paddock Vineyards Adelaide Hills

Surprisingly, Durif has also found its way to cool climate areas. John Vale of Vale Wines at Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula has successfully pioneered the variety. You can read all about his experiences in his article Cool Climate Durif? You must be kidding! in the Winemakers' Tales section of Vinodiversity.

Dan Crane, winemaker at All Saints Winery in the Rutherglen Region has written about how long maceration is used to bring out the best of the variety's prodigious tannins when making All Saints Durif

You can also read this article where Smithy from Warrabilla wines has written "Confessions of a Durif tragic"

The depth of flavour and body of the wine seems to be enhanced by the bubbles. A great way to start your acquaintance with sparkling red wine is with a bottle of Morris Sparkling Durif.

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