I love wine tasting parties Carol! Thanks for the question. OK what do we know about Shiraz...it's a big, bold, fruit-forward red wine, so we don't want to serve any delicate dainty little foods that will be overpowered by it.
There are two ways you could go with your appetizer. You could have a dessert-type appetizer like dark chocolate that would hold it's own with the wine.
Or, if you want something more substantial, you could get really creative with some meats like a pork rib or small lamb chop appetizer. Just be careful to stay away from any acidic sauses, as they will clash with the Shiraz. One of the best appetizers I've had lately with Shiraz was a roast duck in a dark plum sauce...mmmm!
