Veteran winemaker David Traeger began his life in the Australian wine industry in 1973. After working as a winemaker for both major and smaller wine companies, in 1986, he established his namesake wine business. After selling his eponymous “David Traeger” brand, he has re-established himself as a small independent winemaker. His aim is to produce limited volumes of elegant and distinctive wines, working with grapes from vineyards that attain the finest fruit character.

Victoria is one of Australia’s most diverse and dynamic wine states, boasting over 20 distinct wine regions. Its varied climate ranges from cool maritime influences along the coast to warmer inland areas, allowing for a wide array of grape varieties and styles. Cool-climate regions like the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, and Macedon Ranges produce elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, often with bright acidity, fine structure, and complex citrus, stone fruit, and red berry flavours. Warmer zones such as Rutherglen and Heathcote excel with robust Shiraz, offering rich plum, blackberry, and spice notes, while also producing acclaimed fortified wines.

Victoria’s soils are equally diverse—from ancient volcanic clay-loams in Heathcote, imparting depth and minerality, to sandy loams in the Yarra Valley, lending finesse and aromatic lift. The Grampians and Beechworth yield distinctive, cool-climate Shiraz with peppery complexity, while King Valley’s Italian heritage has made it a hub for varieties like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and Prosecco, delivering wines with vibrant fruit and savoury nuance.

This diversity in terroir and climate fosters a thriving culture of experimentation and small-scale, artisan winemaking. Victoria’s wines are known for their balance, elegance, and strong sense of place, offering everything from crisp sparkling wines to richly textured reds.

Syrah, also known as Shiraz in Australia and parts of the New World, is one of the world’s most celebrated red grape varieties. Its origins trace back to the Rhône Valley in France, where it thrives in both the northern Rhône’s steep, granite slopes and the warmer southern regions. Syrah vines are hardy and adaptable, tolerating a range of soils, but they prefer well-drained sites with ample sunlight. The grape is naturally vigorous, with small, thick-skinned berries that produce deeply coloured wines rich in tannin and flavour.

Today, Syrah is planted widely across the globe. In France, it remains dominant in appellations such as Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Crozes-Hermitage. In Australia, Shiraz is the country’s flagship variety, producing styles from bold, ripe Barossa bottlings to elegant, cool-climate Yarra Valley expressions. Significant plantings also exist in South Africa, the United States (notably California and Washington State), Chile, and Argentina.

The style of Syrah/Shiraz varies with climate and winemaking approach. Cool-climate examples offer notes of black pepper, violets, and fresh blackberry, with firm acidity and structure. Warmer regions produce richer, fuller wines with flavours of ripe plum, black cherry, chocolate, and spice. Across styles, Syrah is prized for its depth, versatility, and ability to age gracefully.