Is Yellow Tail Shiraz sweet?
Yellow Tail Shiraz is not a sweet wine, but it is soft and very fruity with a little sweetness to it, so it tastes sweeter than most dry reds.
Yellow Tail Shiraz · Shiraz (Syrah) · South Eastern Australia · nearly everywhere
- Alcohol
- About 13.5%
- Sweetness
- Tastes off-dry, with about 11 grams of sugar per liter
- Grapes
- Shiraz (the same grape as Syrah)
- Made by
- Casella Family Brands, imported by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits
- From
- South Eastern Australia (made in Yenda, New South Wales)
- Price
- About $6 to $8 (about $11 to $13 for 1.5 liters)
- Calories
- About 125 to 135 in a 5 oz glass (estimate)
What it tastes like
Juicy blackberry, plum and a hint of spice and vanilla. Smooth and round with almost no grip.
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
- Gripsmooth → grippy
Is it worth $7?
For $7 it is a reliable, easy red. It is not complex, but it is not trying to be. If you want more pepper and personality, Bogle Petite Sirah is worth the extra few dollars.
Who it’s for
For people who want a cheap, friendly red with zero harshness. If you like dry, firm reds, it will taste simple.
How to serve it
Serve cool, around 20 minutes in the fridge.
The backstory
The Casella family sold bulk wine to other wineries until 2000, when they made their own label with a little yellow-footed rock wallaby on it. The goal in the US was 25,000 cases the first year; they sold over a million. It is built to be soft and fruity with a touch of leftover sugar, which is exactly why so many people who "don't like red wine" like this one.
How it compares
- Yellow Tail Shiraz vs Barefoot Cabernet
Barefoot Cab is a little drier and lighter, while Yellow Tail Shiraz is juicier and rounder, so pick Yellow Tail if you want it smooth and fruity.
- Yellow Tail Shiraz vs Apothic Red
Apothic is even sweeter and richer with more mocha, for about $3 more, so go Apothic for dessert-ish sipping and Yellow Tail for BBQ.
- Yellow Tail Shiraz vs Bogle Petite Sirah
Bogle Petite Sirah is fuller, drier and peppery for a few dollars more, the move when you want a bold red with real personality.
What to eat with it
Questions people ask
- How much alcohol is in Yellow Tail Shiraz?
- About 13.5%, which is normal for a red wine. It sits right in the middle: not light, not boozy.
- How much sugar is in Yellow Tail Shiraz?
- About 11 grams per liter, so roughly 1.5 grams in a 5 oz glass. That is more than a bone-dry red but far less than a sweet wine, which is why it tastes smooth but not sugary.
- How many calories are in Yellow Tail Shiraz?
- Yellow Tail does not print it, but with 13.5% alcohol and a bit of sugar, a 5 oz glass is likely around 125 to 135 calories.
- What is the difference between Shiraz and Syrah?
- Same grape, different name. Australians call it Shiraz and usually make it riper and juicier; in France and most of the US it is called Syrah and tends to taste more peppery and savory.
- What cheese goes with Yellow Tail Shiraz?
- Aged cheddar, smoked gouda and pepper jack all work, because the fruity wine balances salty, smoky flavors. Skip delicate goat cheese, which it will run over.
If you like this, try
- Barefoot CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $7It's fine
- 19 CrimesRed blend · about $11It's fine
- Apothic RedRed blend (Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon) · about $10Good buy
Where Moxie recommends it
Last checked 2026-10-04. Moxie Vino isn’t affiliated with Yellow Tail; this is our honest take. Bottle photo: [yellow tail] (Casella Family Brands).