Swill or Swell: Episode 8

Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz

WATCH THE EPISODE HERE

Welcome to Swill or Swell, a weekly series where I taste grocery store wines and let you know if they’re worth the buck or just meant for the drain!

​CAVEAT! As you read this, please keep in mind that wine is subjective! This means that everyone enjoys different things and something I like might not be something you like and vice versa. I’ll be as objective as I can with facts about the wine’s quality, but in the end if your opinion differs from mine...that’s perfectly fine! Wine is only worth drinking if YOU like drinking it!

LET’S INTRODUCE THE WINE

Today I’ll be drinking a Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz from South Africa. My mom is joining me for this tasting, and since she is a fan of sweet wines, I chose this just for her. Her favorite right now is Moscato d’Asti, so let's see if I can convince her to branch out from her norms, and add this wine to her list of favorites!

It was also interesting to me that this Shiraz was from South Africa. I didn’t realize they called it Shiraz there and not Syrah (same grape!). So those are just a few reasons I’m excited for this tasting!

JAM JAR SWEET SHIRAZ FUN FACTS

Let’s start by talking about the Shiraz varietal.

• Shiraz is the term used for the grape most commonly in Australia
• The grape originated in...you guessed it - France
• There are no additives or artificial sugars in this wine
• Typically, in a dry wine you can expect: full body, high alcohol, lots of fruit (red and black fruit especially), non-fruit flavors like: tobacco, peppercorn, meat, and smoke.

​Now a little bit about the brand.

• ​Andre Shearer is the CEO of Cape Classics, which produces Jam Jar! They believe that anyone who likes their wines on the sweeter side deserves to have a delicious and well-crafted option. In fact, nearly 25% of all bottled wine from South Africa available in the US bears the Cape Classics seal.

WINE TASTING NOTES

Look: Medium ruby
Smell: Berries, chocolate, a little smoke
Taste: A little sweetness, acidity
My mom thinks it tastes like cherry cough drops!
Think:
Food Pairing - Red meat, especially bbq or something with sweetness
Occasion - Brunch, happy hour, and sangria (or a slushy)!
Rating - I give it a swell!

Want to learn more? Check out my Instagram every Thursday at 5PM PST for a new episode of Swill or Swell! Have a wine you’d like me to taste? Write your request in the comments below or send me a message on Instagram!

Cheers!