Two of the most popular reds in any South African bottle store are Merlot and Shiraz. They are both dark, both dry, and both easy to find at every price. Yet they taste quite different, and picking the right one can be the difference between a good dinner and a great one.
The Merlot vs Shiraz question comes up often in the tasting room at Boschkloof Wine Farm on Polkadraai Road. The simple version is that Merlot is soft and smooth while Shiraz is bold and spicy, but there is more worth knowing before you choose.
By the end of this guide you will know how each red tastes, which is bolder, which feels sweeter, and what food brings out the best in both.
TL;DR
- Merlot is soft, rounded, and easy to drink, with plummy fruit and gentle tannins.
- Shiraz is bold and full, with dark fruit, pepper, spice, and a richer, more powerful feel.
- Both are dry. Merlot can seem sweeter because of its ripe, soft fruit, while Shiraz tastes spicier and more intense.
- Pick Merlot for lighter meals and easy sipping. Pick Shiraz for rich, flavourful, or spiced food.
- Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape, just named differently depending on the style and country.
The quick answer
Reach for Merlot when you want something smooth and approachable. Think roast chicken, pork, pasta, or a quiet glass on its own. Its soft tannins make it gentle and easy, even for people who do not usually drink red.
Reach for Shiraz when the food is bold or the mood calls for something with more punch. Think steak, lamb, boerewors off the braai, or a rich, spiced stew. Shiraz has power, pepper, and depth that stand up to strong flavours.
If you are not sure which way to go, Merlot is the safer crowd-pleaser, while Shiraz is the one to choose when you want the wine to make a statement.
Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape
Before we compare them, one quick point that clears up a lot of confusion. Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape. The name simply changes with the style.
“Syrah” usually points to a more restrained, peppery, cooler-climate style, in the mould of France’s northern Rhône. “Shiraz” usually means a riper, bolder, fruit-forward style made famous by Australia and used widely here in South Africa. We unpack this fully in our guide to Syrah and Shiraz, but for this comparison, treat Shiraz as the bold red in the pair.
Merlot, by contrast, is its own grape, one of the great reds of Bordeaux.
How each one actually tastes
The quickest way to tell them apart is by weight and spice.
Merlot tasting notes:
- Ripe plum, black cherry, and red berries
- Chocolate, vanilla, and a soft herbal note
- Smooth, supple tannins that feel rounded
- Medium to full body with a gentle finish
- Fruit-forward and easy, rarely sharp or aggressive
Shiraz tasting notes:
- Blackberry, dark plum, and black cherry
- Cracked black pepper, spice, and sometimes smoke or liquorice
- Fuller, firmer tannins with more grip
- Full body with a powerful, lingering finish
- Bold and intense, with a warm, sometimes savoury edge
The pepper is the giveaway. If the wine has a distinct peppery, spicy lift, it is almost certainly the Shiraz. If it feels soft, round, and plummy, that is the Merlot.
Which is sweeter, and which is bolder?
This is the most common question, so it is worth being clear. Both Merlot and Shiraz are made as dry wines. Neither has meaningful sugar in the glass.
Merlot often feels a little sweeter, but that is its ripe, soft fruit rather than actual sugar. Shiraz can also taste fruity and ripe, especially in warmer-climate styles, but its pepper and spice keep it tasting bold rather than sweet. Of the two, Shiraz is the bigger, more powerful wine, while Merlot is the softer and rounder one. Shiraz also tends to feel a little drier thanks to its firmer tannins, and it often carries a touch more alcohol, which adds to its bigger, riper feel even though it is just as dry as the Merlot.
So if you want the gentler, smoother red, choose Merlot. If you want the bolder, spicier, more intense red, choose Shiraz. If you are genuinely after a sweet red, neither is the answer, and an off-dry or fortified style would suit you better.
A quick comparison table
Here is the difference between Merlot and Shiraz at a glance. You will also see it written as Shiraz vs Merlot, but the comparison is the same.
| Merlot | Shiraz | |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Medium to full, rounded | Full, powerful |
| Tannins | Soft, supple | Firmer, with more grip |
| Fruit profile | Plum, black cherry, chocolate | Blackberry, dark plum, black pepper |
| Signature note | Smoothness | Pepper and spice |
| Sweetness | Dry, but feels softer | Dry, bold and spicy |
| Best serving temp | 15 to 17°C | 16 to 18°C |
| Pairs well with | Roast chicken, pork, pasta | Steak, lamb, boerewors, spiced dishes |
What food each one wants
The simplest rule is to match the power of the wine to the strength of the food.
Choose Merlot for:
- Roast chicken and turkey
- Pork loin, gammon, and sausages
- Pasta with tomato or bolognese sauce
- Mushroom dishes and lighter stews
- Pizza and easy weeknight food
- Softer cheeses such as Gouda
Choose Shiraz for:
- Steak and grilled red meat
- Lamb, especially with herbs and spice
- Boerewors and a mixed-grill braai
- Venison and rich game dishes
- Spiced stews, tagines, and barbecue
- Mature, hard cheeses
Shiraz also has a special way with the braai. Its pepper and smoke echo the char on grilled meat, which is why it is such a popular South African red. It loves a bit of heat too, from peri-peri chicken to a Cape Malay curry, where the pepper in the wine plays right along. For more on matching wine to the meal, our beginner’s guide to wine pairing is a good starting point.
How to choose on the shelf
A few quick rules help when you are deciding between two unfamiliar labels.
For Merlot, look for:
- A recent vintage, since Merlot is lovely while its fruit is fresh
- A producer from an established red-wine region such as Stellenbosch
- A wine you can open and enjoy now, without cellaring
For Shiraz, look for:
- The word “Shiraz” for a riper, bolder style, or “Syrah” for a more peppery, restrained one
- A producer from a warm region for a fuller style
- A vintage with a year or two of age, since Shiraz can soften and deepen
Where these fit among the reds
Merlot and Shiraz are only two of the reds worth knowing. If you are building a feel for South African reds, it helps to taste across the range.
Merlot sits on the softer, gentler end. Shiraz sits on the bold, full end alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, though Shiraz brings more pepper and spice where Cabernet brings firm structure. Our guides to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and Pinotage and Merlot round out the picture nicely.
Taste the difference at the cellar
The fastest way to settle the Merlot versus Shiraz question for yourself is to pour them next to each other and feel the difference between soft and bold. Real people, real wine, real rewards, that is the whole idea behind an unhurried tasting at our table.
Our Stellenbosch Syrah shows the more elegant, peppery side of this grape, grown on granite-rich soils on Polkadraai Road, from our family cellar to your table.
Book a tasting at the cellar, or shop our red wines online and try them at home over a lazy afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Merlot or Shiraz better?
Neither is better. Merlot is soft, smooth, and easy to drink, which suits lighter meals and casual sipping. Shiraz is bold and spicy, which suits rich food and bigger flavours. The best choice depends on the meal and the mood.
Is Merlot sweeter than Shiraz?
Both are dry wines, so neither is truly sweet. Merlot can taste a little sweeter because of its soft, ripe, plummy fruit. Shiraz is also fruity but tastes bolder and spicier, with pepper that keeps it from seeming sweet.
Is Shiraz the same as Syrah?
Yes. Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape. “Shiraz” usually means a riper, bolder, fruit-forward style, while “Syrah” tends to mean a more peppery, restrained one. The name is a clue to the style in the bottle.
Which is bolder, Merlot or Shiraz?
Shiraz is the bolder of the two. It is fuller in body, with firmer tannins and a peppery, spicy intensity. Merlot is softer and rounder, which makes it the gentler, more approachable red.
Which is better for a braai?
Shiraz is the classic braai red. Its pepper, spice, and smoky edge echo the char on grilled meat and boerewors. Merlot can work with lighter grills like chicken, but for red meat off the fire, Shiraz is hard to beat.
Which red is easier for someone new to wine?
Merlot is usually the easier introduction. Its soft tannins and rounded fruit make it gentle and approachable, with none of the grip or spice that can feel challenging at first. It is a friendly first red.
So, Merlot or Shiraz?
Merlot is your soft, smooth, easy-drinking red for lighter meals and casual evenings, while Shiraz is your bold, peppery, full-bodied red for the braai and big flavours. Both are dry, both are made well in South Africa, and the best way to find your favourite is to taste them side by side. Book a tasting or order a bottle of each and decide for yourself.