What is Syrah / Shiraz?
- Red wine Grape from the Rhone Valley in France
- Pronounced ‘seer-ahh‘ or ‘sheer-raz‘
- Will grow almost everywhere, including warm and cool climates
- Syrah and Shiraz are the exact same grape
- Named Shiraz in Australia from the city in ancient Persia / Mesopotamia where the grape was originally thought to have been from
- Prefers warmer climates
- Thick skin, high tannins
- Good ability to age due to the tannins
- Usually barreled in oak
- The grape has large bunches, small to medium in size
- Often blended with Grenache in France, Australia with Cabernet Sauvignon
- Despite the similar name, Petite Syrah has no relationship with the Syrah grape
- Blends very well with Grenache, as Grenache is very light in color and shiraz is super dark
- Grenache has notes of sweet raspberries whereas Syrah is sour fruit like blackberries, so blended they balance ripeness with sour
Where is Syrah / Shiraz grown?
- Best grown in Rhone Valley in France, not much in the north, lots in the south
- Grown all around the world
- Number one winemaking country for Syrah is France with Australia second
- Usually blended with Grenache and Mourvedre, called a Rhone Blend or GSM in Australia
- Brought to Australia in the 1830s by James Busbey
- Blended with Chateauneuf du Pape and Coates du rhone with Grenache
- Blended with Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia
- Number one grape in Australia however France produces double the amount
- Hermitage in the Rhone Valley produces premium 100% Syrah wines
- South Australia has very big wines such as the Barossa Valley and Victoria are more perfumed, Hunter Valley more delicate
- California had a major grape replanting in the 1990s and Syrah was planted in the Central Valley and Central Coast
- Sixth most planet grape variety
- Pinot Noir is a grandparent of Syrah
- Viognier is a sibling of Syrah, also from the Rhone Valley
What does Syrah / Shiraz taste like?
- Big, full-bodied, fruity
- When young has notes of super-ripe fruit
- Australian and French Shiraz are distinctly different, Australian Shiraz is big, bold, ripe whereas French is delicate and complex
- France produce elegant Syrah, with notes of raspberry, not deep and inky
- Blackberry, black currant, chocolate, black pepper, licorice
- Spicy, good amount of acid so quite balanced
- Australian Shiraz is high in alcohol (~16%), especially in South Australia compared to France
- Australia typically produces Shiraz with more oak
- Australian is big, juicy, deep, and inky in color
- Dark, rich, super high tannins,. black pepper is the key taste
What food pairs best with Syrah / Shiraz?
- Pair Australian Shiraz with beefy stews, any stew cooked in red wine, or grilled meats
- Pair French Syrah with short rib, stews, vegetables, mushroom dishes