For many wine lovers, Shiraz is known for its generous fruit, spice, and rich, full-bodied character. But every now and then, you’ll come across a bottle labelled Pressings – a name that sparks curiosity and raises the question: what exactly are pressings, and why are they so special?
At Ivanhoe Wines, our 2023 Shiraz Pressings represents a different expression of Hunter Valley Shiraz. It’s bold, intensely flavoured and produced in very limited quantities, offering wine enthusiasts the opportunity to experience a side of Shiraz that few wineries bottle on its own.
What Are Wine Pressings?
Pressings are the wine extracted from grape solids after fermentation is complete.
Once fermented Shiraz grapes have finished their time in tank, the juice that drains freely without any applied pressure is collected first. This is called free-run wine — typically the softest, brightest and most fruit-forward portion of the vintage.
What remains in the tank — skins, seeds and pulp — still holds significant wine. A basket press or modern mechanical press then extracts this remaining liquid under controlled pressure. That extracted wine is the pressings.
Why Are Pressings Different?
Pressings produce a wine with remarkable depth and concentration.
The additional extraction draws more tannins, colour and flavour compounds from the grape skins, creating a wine that is:
- Richer and darker in colour
- Full-bodied with greater texture
- Packed with concentrated dark berry fruit
- Layered with spice and savoury complexity
- Firmly structured with long-lasting tannins
These characteristics make pressings an incredibly valuable component in premium winemaking.
A Winemaker’s Secret Ingredient
Many wineries never release a pressings wine on its own.
Instead, small portions are carefully blended back into the free-run wine to add structure, colour, complexity and ageing potential. It is one of the subtle decisions that can elevate an already outstanding Shiraz.
Every vintage presents different opportunities, and blending allows winemakers to achieve the balance and style they’re seeking.
However, when the pressings themselves display exceptional character, they deserve the spotlight.
Why Ivanhoe Bottles Shiraz Pressings
At Ivanhoe Wines, our 2023 Shiraz Pressings is produced as a standalone wine because it offers something genuinely unique.
Rather than simply supporting another blend, these pressings possess enough balance, concentration and personality to become a wine in their own right.
It’s an opportunity for our winemaking team to showcase a different expression of Hunter Valley Shiraz – one that’s unapologetically bold while remaining refined and true to its regional origins.
Produced in limited quantities, it has become a favourite among members and collectors who appreciate wines with intensity, structure and remarkable ageing potential.
The Ivanhoe Wines 2023 Shiraz Pressings
Our 2023 Shiraz Pressings is a wine for those who appreciate boldness, craftsmanship and the finer details of winemaking.
Displaying concentrated blackberry and plum fruit layered with spice and savoury notes, it delivers impressive weight across the palate while retaining the elegance and balance that define Ivanhoe Wines. Its firm tannin structure not only creates a rich, textured palate but also gives the wine excellent cellaring potential. While it drinks beautifully now with a little time to breathe, those who choose to cellar it will be rewarded as the tannins soften and the wine develops even greater complexity over the years.
Whether enjoyed alongside a perfectly cooked steak, slow-cooked lamb, aged hard cheeses or simply shared around a roaring fire with good company, it’s a wine made for memorable occasions. Like all great Hunter Valley Shiraz, it tells the story of the vineyard, the vintage and the careful decisions made throughout the winemaking process.
Experience Shiraz Pressings for Yourself
If you’ve never tasted a pressings wine before, there’s no better place to begin than Ivanhoe Wines.
Available in limited quantities, our 2023 Shiraz Pressings offers a rare opportunity to experience one of the most concentrated and characterful expressions of Hunter Valley Shiraz.
Visit our cellar door to discover the wine as part of a guided tasting, or shop online to secure a bottle for your collection while stocks last.