It's Aussie for 'Syrah'

Wine Find: Boxhead Shiraz 2008, South Australia ($9)

Find it: This wine is nationally distributed and easily available. Call your wine store to see if they have it or

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I’ve had this wine! Rate it 1-5 stars and hit the comments with your notes.

PSA: Please drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.

20090505 @ Ziti's by Patricia W.

Syrah and Shiraz are traditionally good pairs with roasted meats and other hearty foods, but an inexpensive, screw-top wine like Boxhead calls for an equally casual dinner. Meat Lover's Pizza fits the bill--order in or make your own.

What are your favorite pizza toppings? Dish in the comments!

PSA: Please drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.

Big(ger) Reds @ Coupe Space's Tasting Club by LexnGer

You say Syrah, I say Shiraz? They're the same grape, actually: Syrah comes from the Northern Rhone in France, and Shiraz is the Australian name. French Syrahs are typically more austere and meatier, while Aussie Shiraz is rich, bold, opulent, and sometimes a bit sweet. Elsewhere, the wine can be called either name, and it's not always easy to tell the style. I like them both, but my favorite is an in-between style that's both serious and a bit opulent, like many Syrahs from Washington state.

Have a preference for Syrah versus Shiraz? Dish in the comments!

PSA: Please drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.

Wine tasting in the Barossa Valley by Tasmin Slater

If you find yourself in South Australia's Barossa Valley just north of Adelaide, stop by the Penfolds Winery for a free tasting and--if you have 65 Australian dollars, or approximately $60 U.S. bucks, you can go into the Winemaker's Laboratory to create your own blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, like Penfolds own Bin 138. You get to take your blend home in a personalized bottle--stay tuned for tomorrow's chance to win just the thing to get it back safely.

Been to the Barossa Valley? Leave a comment about your favorite winery there.

PSA: Please drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.

This week's giveaway is really cool: Etched Images, a company in the Napa Valley, creates custom wine labels etched right into the wine bottle. I can think of a number of situations a custom-etched bottle would be perfect, from a very special marriage proposal to a company holiday gift.

Enter to win a handcrafted Etched Images bottle--just leave a comment on the site with something you'd like to see etched into a wine bottle!

Read the contest rules (short version: one entry per person, must be 21 or older and have a U.S. mailing address, enter by midnight Eastern time the following Thursday).

Web find of the week: Swan Lake on wineglasses

PSA: Please drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.