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Syrah’s origins are uncertain but its modern viticultural home is the northern Rhone Valley of eastern France. Shiraz is the name given to the Syrah grape when grown in Australia and selected pockets of the New World. Australia's history with the grape dates back well to the mid 19th century.
The most popular Syrah/Shiraz wines are from the northern Rhone, specifically Cote-Rotie, Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Joseph. Elsewhere in Europe Syrah is found in Switzerland’s Valais, and eastern Austria's Burgenland. Shiraz is the most widely planted grape in Australia with the Barossa Valley some examples coming from 100+ year-old vines, also McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Hunter Valley and Margaret River are all known for distinctive styles. The grape is increasingly important in South Africa, Hawke’s Bay (New Zealand), Washington State (USA) and Chile. Syrah has a cult following in the western United States, in California, Washington and Oregon. In South Africa, the Shiraz naming convention is commonplace and in the USA, South America and Israel either Syrah or Shiraz may be used depending on fashion. |
In the southern Rhone it is common for Syrah to be blended with any combination of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault, to produce the Rhone Red Blend typical of Chateuaneuf-du-Pape. In the Iberian peninsula Syrah is increasingly blended, with Tempranillo in Spain, and Touriga in Portugal. Shiraz in Australia is often blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre (aka Mataro) creating the GSM blend. Shiraz blended with Cabernet Sauvignon is the basis of some of Australia's most famous wines. The practice of co-fermenting the white wine grape Viognier with Syrah began in the northern Rhone (Cote Rotie) and is now used in South Australia’s Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Victoria’s Yarra Valley.
The Syrah/Shiraz grape is dark-skinned with high tannin levels when grown in moderate to warm climates. Syrah/Shiraz wines have the important ability to age well over many decades. Though genetically identical, the differences between Syrah and Shiraz are usually pronounced styles with Syrah generally indicating a more elegant style and Shiraz implying a riper, fuller style. Syrah/Shiraz shows well known aromas and flavours that include: blackcurrant, black cherry, blueberries, anise, white and black pepper, mint, herbaceous notes, licorice, dark chocolate, cassis, tanned leather, smoky scents, and earth. |
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