So You Think You Know….. Syrah/Shiraz!
February 16th is International Syrah/Shiraz Day!
And yes, there are two names for the same black grape variety; ‘Syrah’ is the French name while ‘Shiraz’ is the name most commonly used in Australia. Its versatility, bold flavours, age-worthiness, international presence, food pairing potential and market demand has contributed to the enduring popularity of Syrah/Shiraz as a grape varietal and wine.
Syrah/Shiraz is a thick-skinned, black variety with small grapes that requires a moderate to warm climate to fully ripen. The grape vines are vigorous, requiring careful training for the production of quality grapes used in many very high-quality single varietal wines, or in blends to add colour, black fruit flavours and tannins.
While Australia is the first region many think of for Shiraz wines, the grape variety’s origins are in the Northern Rhône, France. In this (and other) moderate climates, wines are typically deep ruby in colour, offering medium to pronounced intensity aromas and flavours of violet, plum, blackberry with black pepper and herbal notes; acidity and tannin levels range from medium to high. Some of the world’s finest examples of Syrah are produced in the Côte-Rotie AOC, Hermitage AOC (where the world’s most structured and long-lived Syrah wines are produced) and Cornas AOC. Here, up to twenty percent of Viognier permitted in blends, though in practice, the percentage used is often between zero and eight. In the South of France, Syrah is often blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre (known as GSM) amongst other grape varieties for reds in appellation wines from regions such as Minervois AOC.
Source: WSET
In warm climates such as the Barossa and Hunter Valleys, and McLaren Vale of South Australia, wines are typically full-bodied and high in alcohol, with ripe flavours of cooked black fruits and licorice. Though Australia is best known for concentrated, full-bodied Shiraz, Australia’s most planted grape variety can be found in most of Australia’s wine regions, produced in an increasingly diverse range of styles including ‘Rhône-style ‘GSM’ blends and sparkling red wines.
Source: WSET Global
Oak maturation is commonly used during production in both France and Australia, both to soften the wine’s tannins and add flavours of spice and smoke. The finest examples of Syrah can age gracefully, developing more complexity and depth over time. This characteristic makes them appealing to enthusiasts and collectors who appreciate the evolution of wine with age. Over time, dried fruit flavours emerge as well as notes of leather, meat and earth.
Outside of France and Australia, plantings of Syrah/Shiraz have increased significantly in many wine-producing countries around the world- Chile, South Africa, Italy, Argentina and Washington State, amongst others. With the expansion of wine production across the world, there has been an expansion in styles, often compared to either the lighter and fresher style of ‘Rhône’ Syrah, or the high alcohol, intense fruit flavour profile of ‘Australian’ Shiraz.