Granite Ridge Bello Rosso: sparkling for red lovers

As the weather cools down, sometimes you are faced with a difficult decision. You feel like the bubbles of sparkling, but it’s too cold to enjoy! And what does one do when they are craving sparkling but also want the warmth of red wine? Fear not for Sparkling Shiraz is coming to your rescue, and I’m here to tell you it may just be your new favourite winter drink! And today I bring you one of my favourites from the lesser-known region of the Granite Belt: the Granite Ridge Bello Rosso.

Sparkling Shiraz has developed a bit of a bad rep in Australia over the years. It was actually started in Australia, and to this day is described as something uniquely Australian. However, it lost popularity a few decades ago when the market was flooded with cheap, sweet and carbonated sparkling wines. So Sparkling Shiraz does have a bit of a bad rep just like Chardonnay.

Lucky for us wine drinkers, those days have passed and this Australian wine has undergone a modern-day renaissance. What awaits you in a bottle of Sparkling Shiraz is something like Christmas with soft, rich flavours that get better with age. It is truly a delicious experience that is completely different to drinking sparkling wine.

So now that I have your attention, let’s talk about the Granite Ridge Bello Rosso.

We keep coming back to the Granite Ridge Bello Rosso

My partner and I stumbled upon the Granite Ridge Bello Rosso when we first went to the Granite Belt and we loved it so much that we brought a bottle home. Then it was drunk, so we bought a few more at the Ekka, but they got polished off too. So luckily we were able to stock up the last time we went to the Granite Belt. There were only a couple of bottles left so we snapped them up before we even started the tasting!

I know I tend to review a lot of wines from Granite Ridge, but that’s because I do enjoy so many of their wines (check out other reviews on their Shiraz Merlot, Chardonnay and Tempranillo). I mean I am a sucker for the Granite Belt because it is the only wine region I can get to relatively easily from Brisbane, but Granite Ridge has to be one of my favourites. They pump out so many interesting varieties and blends that are always delicious and really reasonably priced. and the Granite Ridge Bello Rosso is no exception.

Why I love it

The Granite Ridge Bello Rosso is everything you’d want from a Sparkling Shiraz and so much more. The colour is deep and rich, something you wouldn’t normally expect to come from a sparkling bottle. It is packed full of rich, fruity flavours along with a hit of that Shiraz spice. It isn’t as heavy as a red, not as refreshing as a sparkling, but far more lively than drinking a Shiraz. That’s the best of both worlds if you ask me, and why Sparkling Shiraz is such a good winter choice.

With the Granite Ridge Bello Rosso you’ll feel like you’re enjoying Christmas in July. It’s bright and fruity but also rich and spicy. This wine has a great depth to it with a super refreshing finish. I love that it also isn’t too bubbly – it has just the right amount of fizz without going overboard and overpowering the flavours of the Shiraz.

This wine is perfect for Sparkling and Red Wine drinkers alike as it is the perfect marriage of everything you love about the two. It’s also for those of us who struggle with deciding between sparkling wine and red wine. With the Granite Ridge Bello Rosso you truly can have your cake and eat it too!

What to enjoy it with

The great thing about the Granite Ridge Bello Rosso and other Sparkling Shiraz is that it pairs so well with food. Thanks to the base of strong fruity, spicy flavours from the Shiraz, you’ll find it pairs beautifully with winter food. Think slow-roasted meats and roasted vegetables. All of those serious comfort foods that you crave in Winter will marry perfectly with this wine.

The other thing it pairs super well with is Christmas! Turkey and other roasted meats are a treat with the Granite Ridge Bello Rosso. Plus with its ruby colour, it is the perfect Instagrammable wine for your Christmas table.

If you are wanting the perfect cheese pairing, the Granite Ridge Bello Rosso also goes great with hard cheeses with a strong flavour. Sounds perfect to me!

The final word

The Granite Ridge Bello Rosso is a great wine and the perfect example of why Sparkling Shiraz is making a comeback. It is perfect for cosy winter nights when you feel like a Sparkling, but you are too cold for something too fresh. It will warm your belly with its spicy, fruity flavours and also give you a bit of a zing! What more could you want other than a nice roast to sit down to?

There is plenty of Sparkling Shiraz to try on the market, but the Granite Ridge Bello Rosso is a great option for its delicious flavour and the price point. Plus you can try some of what the Granite Belt has to offer while you’re at it!