However, Australians refer to it as Shiraz, not Syrah. The similarities in climate between these regions and the San Joaquin Valley suggest that Syrah may have similar potential in California. Interest in Syrah among California growers and wine producers has increased considerably in recent years. This experiment is being conducted on the California State University, Fresno campus vineyard. The trellis system consists of a three wire vertical system with wooden posts every 21 feet.
Irrigation is supplied through a drip system.
The resulting pruning job is equivalent to hand pruning. Production systems were selected because they represent a progression in the level of mechanization, can be done utilizing commercially available equipment and are being used in warm climate viticulture production areas for Syrah. Treatments were established during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. At harvest, yield and yield components of five vine plots were determined. Mature nodes were counted and dormant season pruning weight measured in December of each season.