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How did we pick this list?
Our editorial team selected the products on this list based on extensive research, real customer reviews and personal experience. For each category, we carefully selected parameters based on our research and identified the products with the highest review score within those parameters.
Read more detail on our methodology below..
De Bortoli Premium Cabernet Merlot
Best cask red wine overall
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Pros
- Good value for money
- High quality for cask wine
Cons
- Lacking complex, sophisticated palate
- Many drinkers will not opt to buy a cask
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Why we chose it
The De Bortoli family has been producing wine since 1928 and is rated a 5 Red Star winery in the James Halliday Wine Companion. Its Premium Cabernet Merlot is our pick for best cask red. It combines value for money with well-balanced flavour.
The winery's tasting note says it combines rich berry Cabernet with soft cherry Merlot flavours, pairing ripe plum with spice, berries and subtle vanillin oak. It scores a rating of 4.3/5 from 32 Dan Murphy's customers, who said it compares well with bottled wine. It is easy to drink straight from the cask and goes well with savoury or sweet food.
Winesmiths Premium Shiraz
Best premium cask red wine
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Pros
- High quality for a cask wine
- Saves from wasting wine if you wouldn’t finish a bottle
Cons
- Price varies among retailers
- Not to everyone's taste
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Why we chose it
Established in 1849 in South Australia, Yalumba is Australia's oldest family-owned winery. Out of the vineyard comes this medium-bodied red that makes our pick for the best of the premium offerings. With a quality that belies the reputation of cask wine, it scores a 4.3/5 rating at Dan Murphy's, where 92% of reviewers would recommend it to friends.
This Shiraz has an aroma of red berries with a hint of black pepper and an alcohol volume of 13.5%. Reviewers said that it doesn't have the aggressive tannin or acid of most Shiraz, which makes it more drinkable.
In Top Company
Best cask red wine under $15
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Pros
- Affordable
- Light and drinkable
Cons
- Flavours are soft and not prominent
- Quality is lower than other casks or bottles
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Why we chose it
If affordability is one of cask wine's biggest selling points then at $10 or even less for 2L this is a drop you'll want to consider. This soft and velvety red carries berry flavours and a hint of spice with an alcohol volume of 12.5%. It's satisfying for the price and the wine will stay fresher for longer than a bottle. It pairs well with grilled meat and spicy food.
Online reviewers found this a light and easy-to-drink option for relaxing evenings. It may not challenge bottled varieties but it is better for the environment and a more portable options for BBQs, picnics and other events.
Banrock Station Cabernet Merlot
Best Australian cask red wine
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Pros
- Good wine for everyday drinking and cooking
- Does not have too much tannins
Cons
- The cask is often overlooked by wine connoisseurs
- Not full bodied
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Why we chose it
Banrock Station has been making wine in Southern Australia since the 1960s and combines passions for good wine and protecting the environment. This cabernet merlot is a popular choice for drinkers who are not averse to picking up a cask. It gets an average customer rating of 4.3/5 at Dan Murphy's.
Smooth and fruity, this soft, medium bodied wine has an alcohol volume of 13.5%. It carries ripe flavours of blackcurrant, plum, and cherry and hints of spice, finishing with good length. Reviewers found it easy on the palate for enjoying with meals and in cooking.
Carussin Barbera
Best international cask red wine
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Pros
- Production process is environmentally friendly
- Cheaper than imported bottled wine
Cons
- Not widely available
- No Dan Murphy's reviews or feedback
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Why we chose it
This Italian drop is a good quality cask wine at a reasonable price. It is described as a bright, vivacious red produced from Barbera d'Asti grapes that makes for excellent drinking. Carussin has been making wine in Piedmont since 1927 and now follows a modern biodynamic method that does not use chemicals.
Using a cardboard box reduces the carbon footprint of the wine and makes it cheaper to import into Australia than heavier glass bottles. The same wine would cost substantially more if it was not in a cask. The "bag in a box" packaging also gives it a longer shelf life.
Brown Brothers Milawa Dry Red 10L
Best cask red wine for parties (larger size)
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Pros
- The size is convenient for stocking up
- Good for everyday drinking
Cons
- Expensive for cask wine
- 10L is a lot of wine if it is not popular
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Why we chose it
The huge 10L dry red cask from Brown Brothers well suited for catering and restaurants as well as large parties. Brown Brothers is a 5 Red Star James Halliday rated winery that has been crafting wine since 1889. Among its offerings are this large cask that has aromas of spice and cloves, followed by lingering red berry fruits. There are undertones of mint and oak with fine tannins.
Customers at Dan Murphy's give this drop an average rating of 4.2/, finding it a good quality, easy drink that is one of the best cask options on the market – convenient, palatable and well-priced.
Methodology
- We’ve compared more than 50 different cask red wines to find the best in their respective categories.
- We’ve balanced taste and popularity with value for money and availability to select the highest-rated cask red wines among Australian consumers.
- The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.
Why you can trust our picks
In the best cask under $15, we searched for the lowest prices and weighed the price against the quality of the wine and customer reviews to make sure taste balanced against cask size and price for the best value for money.
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