Syrah
Syrah is a black grape variety that produces dry red wines. Also known as “Shiraz” in Australia, this variety has small berries with thick skins and can grow successfully in moderate and warm climates. Syrah/ Shiraz typically produces deeply colored wines with flavours of black fruits and signature hints of black pepper. These wines can be fruity and drunk young or complex and oaked with a big ageing potential.
The most famous and successful expressions of this grape are the lean and peppery Syrah coming from the Northern Rhône in France and the ripe and powerful Shiraz coming from the Barossa Valley in Australia. The grape is commonly produced as a single varietal however it can be blended successfully with other varieties, especially with its ideal partner “Grenache”.
Syrah in France
Syrah is the only black grape variety permitted in the Northern Rhône in the Rhone Valley, France. Wines produced here are single varietal deeply colored wines with high acidity, medium tannins, and aromas of fresh black fruits (black cherry, blackberry) along with herbal and black pepper notes.
The best expressions of this grape here usually come out of Cote Rôtie, where Syrah can also be blended with up to 20% of the white aromatic variety “Viognier”, that adds a lift of aromatics and stabilizes the color of the wine. Hermitage is another region well known for producing very good and outstanding examples with great ageing potential developing tertiary aromas of meat, leather, earth, and dried fruits.
In France, Syrah is also widely grown in the south, in the Languedoc- Roussillon area, where it is commonly blended with other black varieties like “Grenache”, “Mourvèdre”, “Carignan”, and “Cinsault”.
Shiraz in Australia
Shiraz is the most widely planted black grape variety in Australia where it can produce high volume inexpensive wines as well as very ripe and powerful age worthy wines.
The most iconic region for Shiraz in Australia is the Barossa Valley that is also home to some of the oldest vines of Shiraz, producing concentrated high-quality wines. Wines from this region are usually known for being deep color, full bodied wines with high alcohol and aromas of very ripe black fruits and hints of licorice. Recently, many winemakers are trying to produce more restrained elegant and lean wines from this grape as well.
Hunter Valley is another region famous for producing single varietal Shiraz in Australia, however they are considered less powerful and big than those in Barossa Valley.
Other countries and regions producing Syrah are Chile, South Africa, Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand and Wahington State in the USA. It’s worth noting that around the world producers refer to the wine from this grape as Syrah or Shiraz depending on the wine style they are producing, whether it is similar to the lean peppery French style (Syrah) or the ripe powerful Australian style (Shiraz).