Ken Forrester Petit Shiraz Renegade 75cl

Big, peppery Shiraz energy, with a South African accent. Ken Forrester’s Petit Shiraz Renegade is the kind of red you pour when you want flavour that shows up, dark fruit, savoury spice, and a little smoky attitude, without needing a lecture to enjoy it.

If your usual red is “whatever works with dinner,” this is the upgrade path that still feels easy. It’s a dry, full-bodied South African Shiraz that leans into ripe fruit and warm spice, then finishes with that gently grippy red-wine structure that makes the next sip feel earned.

• Appearance: Deep ruby, almost inky at the core.
• Nose: Blackberry and plum first, then black pepper, a little smoked meat, and a hint of cocoa.
• Palate: Dry and fruit-forward, with dark berries up front, peppery spice in the middle, and firm, food-friendly tannins.
• Body: Full-bodied.
• Finish: Long and savoury, with lingering spice and a touch of smoke.

Food pairing: This is a braai bottle. Think lamb chops with rosemary, BBQ brisket, or a pepper-crusted steak with chimichurri.

Why it works so well: Shiraz naturally brings that black-fruit depth and peppery kick, and in South Africa it often comes with a savoury, smoky edge that’s unreal with grilled food. You get bold flavour, but it still feels balanced enough to drink with dinner instead of just “after dinner.”

Not sure if you’re a Shiraz person? Start here if you like Malbec’s dark fruit but want more spice and a drier, grippier finish. Or if you’re an Aussie Shiraz regular, consider this a slightly more savoury, barbecue-ready cousin.

Pour it for a weeknight roast, bring it to a backyard grill session, or open it when your group chat says “steak?” and everyone suddenly becomes available. It’s a crowd-pleaser, but not a boring one.

Fun Fact: Ken Forrester is one of South Africa’s most well-known names for Chenin Blanc, which makes this punchy Shiraz “Renegade” bottling a bit of a rule-breaking side quest.