How Syrah Became Shiraz: A Short History 2017 Wine Style Awards - The Best Wines Of The Year View all winners How Syrah Became Shiraz: A Short History Where does Syrah originally come from? Are Syrah and Shiraz the same thing? Which countries produce what? Is there a link between Syrah and Petite Sirah? A brief look at the history of the grape variety and its name provides (almost) all the answers. - Although most of us get the spelling wrong 3 times out of 4, we've all heard about and tasted wines made from the Syrah grape variety. The grape is famous for its typical fruity and peppery aromatic profile, as well as a rich and often rather tannic mouthfeel, with a dense dark color. We also know there's quite a few places in the 'New World' that produce wines named 'Shiraz'. But where does the grape variety originally came from? Are Syrah and Shiraz the same thing? Which countries produce what? Is there a link between Syrah and Petite Sirah? A brief look at the history of the grape variety and its name provides (almost) all the answers.

Origin and Tales: the Syrah Grape There's been quite a few speculations, tales, and legends around the origin of the Syrah grape variety and its name, all bringing us back in time: The Romans could have spread it across Europe from the Sicilian city of Syracuse. Could the grape be named after this city? Roman author Pliny the Elder once wrote about a grape called Vitis Syriaca or 'grape from Syria,' suggesting it may have come from there. Syrah may simply be named after the Iranian city of Shiraz (or Chiraz). Could it be from Iran? However, the reality is that Syrah was born and bred in France. DNA profiling has shown that the variety was created crossing an old southern France variety called Dureza with the Mondeuse Blanche grape from the Savoie region in the French Alps. Syrah really came to prominence in France during the 18th century in the Rhone Valley, where it is still the main red grape variety.

From France to Australia, Syrah to Shiraz In the 1830s, the first cuttings of Syrah were introduced from France to Australia by Scottish viticulturist James Busby, often referred to as "the Father of Australian viticulture." However, historical records show that he labelled these cuttings as "Scyras" and "Ciras". From there, the grape variety was planted in the Sydney Botanical Gardens, then the Hunter Valley, before making it to South Australia in the middle of the 18th century. It remains a bit of a mystery exactly how Syrah became Shiraz. Is it because of the wrong original labelling of the first cuttings, or because of the strong Australian accent? One thing is sure, Syrah and Shiraz today are the exact same grape variety, although like for all grapes, different clones and variants exist. However, as the grape variety was spread and planted all around the New World, the Syrah and Shiraz names have almost gone from an indication of origin to an indication of style. Where Are Syrah and Shiraz Grown? Which Name for What? Syrah is one of the most important grape varieties of the Rhone Valley region of France.

In the northern part of the Rhone, it is the only red grape variety allowed for the production of wine from appellations like Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, or Côte Rôtie. In southern Rhone, like in Châteauneuf-du-Pape or most the Côtes du Rhône, Syrah is generally blended with other grapes like Grenache or Mourvèdre, forming the famous GSM blend. With Syrah also planted in other French regions like the Languedoc-Roussillon, France remains the world's biggest producer of the grape by some distance. Australia is the second biggest producer of Syrah, accounting for about 40% of the country's total wine output. Down Under, Syrah is almost invariably called Shiraz and produces the most famous and expensive Aussie wines like Penfold's Grange Bin 95 and Henschke Hill of Grace. Plantings of Syrah are very important in Spain, but the wines are almost always blended with other varieties and rarely appears on labels. No debate there at least around the name.

The entire 'New World' has also been seduced by the rich and spicy grape variety with varietal wines produced in important quantities in South Africa, the United States, and Chile. There, the name Syrah or Shiraz is often used to indicate the wine style. Syrah indicates a wine generally made in a cooler climate in a more restrained style, while the Shiraz labelling is reserved for rich, alcoholic, and exuberant expressions. Today though, lines are moving: Some French producers have started using the term Shiraz to emphasize on the New World style of Syrah wine they produce, in Languedoc-Roussillon in particular. Some Australian producers in cooler areas have even started labelling some wines as Syrah. New Zealand has recently entered the club of countries producing Syrah. To underline New Zealand's cool climate and the peppery and mineral style produced there, Kiwis nearly always use the term 'Syrah.' Is Petite Sirah Related to Syrah? Syrah and Petite Sirah have similar names, but are spelt differently. Confusing! Is Petite Sirah a baby Syrah? The simple and short answer is yes and no.

Petite Sirah was an entirely new grape variety discovered in the 1860s by French Botanist Francois Durif who named his new breed after himself. The Durif grape was then introduced to the United States and became popular in California under the name Petite Sirah for its resemblance to Syrah but with smaller berries. It was only in the 1990s that not only Petite Sirah was identified as being the same grape as Durif, but also that one of the grape varieties crossed by Professor Durif to create his new grape was in fact Syrah. In summary, Petite Sirah is somewhat of the American hidden and small-berried child of Syrah, though they are not the same grape. Hope you've enjoyed the journey around the world with Syrah. About the author Julien is the founder of Social Vignerons winner of the 2015 Best New Wine Blog from the Wine Blog Awards. Follow him on Vivino and on Twitter . - How Syrah Became Shiraz: A Short History / Wine News How Syrah Became Shiraz: A Short History Jan 6, 2016 (Vivino) - Where does Syrah originally come from?

Are Syrah and Shiraz the same thing? Which countries produce what? Is there a link between Syrah and Petite Sirah? A brief look at the history of the grape variety and its name provides (almost) all the answers. Although most of us get the spelling wrong 3 times out of 4, we've all heard about and tasted wines made from the Syrah grape variety. The grape is famous for its typical fruity and peppery aromatic profile, as well as a rich and often rather tannic mouthfeel, with a dense dark color. We also know there's quite a few places in the 'New World' that produce wines named 'Shiraz'. But where does the grape variety originally came from? Are Syrah and Shiraz the same thing? Which countries produce what? Is there a link between Syrah and Petite Sirah? A brief look at the history of the grape variety and its name provides (almost) all the answers. Origin and Tales: the Syrah Grape There's been quite a few speculations, tales, and legends around the origin of the Syrah grape variety and its name, all bringing us back in time: The Romans could have spread it across Europe from the Sicilian city of Syracuse.

Could the grape be named after this city? Roman author Pliny the Elder once wrote about a grape called Vitis Syriaca or 'grape from Syria,' suggesting it may have come from there. Syrah may simply be named after the Iranian city of Shiraz (or Chiraz). Could it be from Iran? However, the reality is that Syrah was born and bred in France. DNA profiling has shown that the variety was created crossing an old southern France variety called Dureza with the Mondeuse Blanche grape from the Savoie region in the French Alps. Syrah really came to prominence in France during the 18th century in the Rhone Valley, where it is still the main red grape variety. From France to Australia, Syrah to Shiraz In the 1830s, the first cuttings of Syrah were introduced from France to Australia by Scottish viticulturist James Busby, often referred to as "the Father of Australian viticulture." However, historical records show that he labelled these cuttings as "Scyras" and "Ciras".

From there, the grape variety was planted in the Sydney Botanical Gardens, then the Hunter Valley, before making it to South Australia in the middle of the 18th century. It remains a bit of a mystery exactly how Syrah became Shiraz. Is it because of the wrong original labelling of the first cuttings, or because of the strong Australian accent? One thing is sure, Syrah and Shiraz today are the exact same grape variety, although like for all grapes, different clones and variants exist. However, as the grape variety was spread and planted all around the New World, the Syrah and Shiraz names have almost gone from an indication of origin to an indication of style. Where Are Syrah and Shiraz Grown? Which Name for What? Syrah is one of the most important grape varieties of the Rhone Valley region of France. In the northern part of the Rhone, it is the only red grape variety allowed for the production of wine from appellations like Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, or Côte Rôtie.

In southern Rhone, like in Châteauneuf-du-Pape or most the Côtes du Rhône, Syrah is generally blended with other grapes like Grenache or Mourvèdre, forming the famous GSM blend. With Syrah also planted in other French regions like the Languedoc-Roussillon, France remains the world's biggest producer of the grape by some distance. Australia is the second biggest producer of Syrah, accounting for about 40% of the country's total wine output. Down Under, Syrah is almost invariably called Shiraz and produces the most famous and expensive Aussie wines like Penfold's Grange Bin 95 and Henschke Hill of Grace. Plantings of Syrah are very important in Spain, but the wines are almost always blended with other varieties and rarely appears on labels. No debate there at least around the name. The entire 'New World' has also been seduced by the rich and spicy grape variety with varietal wines produced in important quantities in South Africa, the United States, and Chile. There, the name Syrah or Shiraz is often used to indicate the wine style.

Syrah indicates a wine generally made in a cooler climate in a more restrained style, while the Shiraz labelling is reserved for rich, alcoholic, and exuberant expressions. Today though, lines are moving: Some French producers have started using the term Shiraz to emphasize on the New World style of Syrah wine they produce, in Languedoc-Roussillon in particular. Some Australian producers in cooler areas have even started labelling some wines as Syrah. New Zealand has recently entered the club of countries producing Syrah. To underline New Zealand's cool climate and the peppery and mineral style produced there, Kiwis nearly always use the term 'Syrah.' Is Petite Sirah Related to Syrah? Syrah and Petite Sirah have similar names, but are spelt differently. Confusing! Is Petite Sirah a baby Syrah? The simple and short answer is yes and no. Petite Sirah was an entirely new grape variety discovered in the 1860s by French Botanist Francois Durif who named his new breed after himself. The Durif grape was then introduced to the United States and became popular in California under the name Petite Sirah for its resemblance to Syrah but with smaller berries.

It was only in the 1990s that not only Petite Sirah was identified as being the same grape as Durif, but also that one of the grape varieties crossed by Professor Durif to create his new grape was in fact Syrah. A Natural History of Syrah - Walla Faces A Natural History of Syrah by Robyn Syrah is one of the most popular grape varieties in the world. Its wines are typically full-bodied and powerful, with peppery and fruity flavors. Although we all know why we love this grape, the question remains: how did Syrah gain the prominence it currently holds in the international wine scene? Three Walla Faces Syrahs! In Australia, Syrah is referred to as Shiraz. This has spurred several myths about its origin. Shiraz is a 4,000+ year-old city in Iran that is known for its wine. Indeed, the world’s oldest sample of wine, dating from a staggering 7,000 years ago, was discovered in clay pots near Shiraz. The most common myth suggests that the Phocaeans brought Syrah from Shiraz to their colony in Marseille on the southeastern coast of France.

From there, it gained popularity and began to move north, to the Rhone region of France. (The myth does not explain how the grape mysteriously disappeared from Marseille shortly afterwards!) Another variation on this myth attributes the grape’s origin to a French knight named Gaspard de Stérimberg, who participated in the crusades in the 1200s. He traveled to Persia (modern day Iran) and returned with the grape in tow. This also seems unlikely, as the crusaders certainly did not travel all the way to Persia! DNA testing by Dr. Carole Meredith, a geneticist who heads the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis revealed the truth about this beloved grape. It is a cross between two little-known varieties: Dureza and Mondeuse blanche. Dureza is grown exclusively in the Rhone region of France. Although it has been used historically because of its heartiness and high yields, Dureza has fallen out of favor in recent years. By 1988 only a single hectare (2.47 acres) of the grape was left growing. That’s as if the only Syrah on the planet was what we have on the Walla Faces Estate Vineyard!

Dureza is also not on the list of allowed wines by the French AOC. Mondeuse blanche is similarly rare. A mere five hectares (12 acres) are left, all in the Savoy region of France. Because of the parent grape varieties are both from a very small region in southeastern France, we can conclude that Syrah originated there as well, probably in northern Rhone. The exact time of the cross is not clear. Historical documents by the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder suggest, however, that the cross may have occurred around 20 AD. Although Syrah is clearly a very old variety, it wasn’t until the 1700s that it began really making a splash. In northeastern Rhone, there was a hill topped with a hermitage (a chapel) built by Gaspard de Stérimberg, the knight of legend. Hermitage wines, red blends made up primarily of Syrah grapes, were consumed worldwide. (They were a favorite of Thomas Jefferson!) Syrah was brought to Australia by a Scotsman named James Busby in 1831, who collected a wide variety of grapes for the land down under.

As a result, he has been dubbed “the father of Australian viticulture”. By the 1860s, Syrah was one of the most popular Australian varietals. Syrah first came to America in the 1970s. It was planted in California by wine-enthusiasts who called themselves the “Rhone rangers”. It finally made its way to Washington state in 1986– almost two thousand years after the grape was first crossed in France. Syrah is also frequently grown in Switzerland, Chile, Argentina, and South Africa. Syrah has even gone on to spawn its own offspring! An accidental cross-pollination between Peloursin and Syrah yielded Petite Sirah in a small vineyard in Tullins, France in the mid-1860s. Now, Syrah has become one of the most popular grapes for wine production. At a staggering 142,600 hectares (352,000 acres) worldwide, it is the seventh most grown grape variety. In Walla Walla alone, 11,000 tons of Syrah are harvested annually… and that number is only increasing!

About Syrah: a Rhône Grape Varietal Grown at Tablas Creek Vineyard | Tablas Creek Vineyard Tablas Creek > Vineyard and Winemaking > Grapes > Syrah Syrah, also known as Shiraz in Australia, is one of the most noble grapes of the Rhône Valley, and by far the most widely planted Rhone variety in California. It is a key component in both our Grenache-based Côtes de Tablas and Mourvedre-based Esprit de Beaucastel blends (typically 20-35% of each, depending on vintage) and makes a wonderfully dark, spicy varietal wine, which we've made most years since 2002. Early History Syrah is one of the oldest established grape varietals in the Côtes du Rhône region of southern France, and competing stories abound about its origin. One legend attributes its arrival in France to the Phocaeans of Asia Minor, who brought the grape from Shiraz, Persia when they established Marseilles around 600 BC. Another story claims that Romans brought the varietal from Syracuse, in Sicily, to the Rhône in the 3rd century AD.

It seems most likely, however, that Syrah is a native French grape, as DNA testing led by U.C. Davis's Carole Meredith confirmed that it is the offspring of two grapes (Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche) from southeastern France. Whatever its origin, Syrah was well established in the vineyards surrounding the Rhône village of Tain-l’Hermitage by the 13th century. Syrah Around the World Syrah is most closely associated with the Northern Rhône appellations of Hermitage and Côte-Rotie, where it produces wines of phenomenal elegance and longevity. It is tremendously flexible, and can make elegant and restrained wines as well as wines bursting with fruit and oak, in locations as diverse as France, California, South Africa, and Australia. In the 1650s, South Africa was the first country outside France to plant Syrah, but it has never been more than a minor variety there. In Australia, however, where it arrived at the end of the 18th Century, it has become the most widely planted grape in that country.

In the northern Rhône, Syrah is typically made as a varietal wine, at times co-fermented or blended with small amounts of Viognier. In the southern Rhône, Syrah is an important blending varietal, and second only to Grenache in acreage. It partners lends to Grenache-based blends darker color, structure, tannin and ageability. The first records of Syrah in the United States show it arriving in California in 1878, but it remained scarce until quite recently, with only 1,200 tons harvested in 1992. As California winemakers recognize its potential, the acreage increased nearly one hundredfold in ten years, and 101,500 tons of Syrah were harvested in California in 2002. Syrah is now the most widely planted Rhône varietal in California, with 19,226 acres planted in 2009. Although it is occasionally confused with the California varietal Petite Sirah, they are separate varietals (experts believe most of what is called Petite Sirah is a cross of the varietals Peloursin and Durif).

Syrah at Tablas Creek When we began Tablas Creek Vineyard in 1990, we were not completely satisfied with the variety of clonal selections of California Syrah vines. So, when we brought our other Rhone varieties from france, we included four different clones of Syrah. These clones were propagated in the Tablas Creek nursery, and we planted our first Beaucastel-clone Syrah blocks in 1994. Syrah in the Vineyard and Cellar Syrah is quite vigorous and thrives when given warm days, poor soils, and sun. Because it is so vigorous, it requires extra canopy management (to expose the fruit to the sun for ripening) and aggressive crop thinning. Unlike most other varietals, its canes extend down toward the ground rather than up toward the sun, and therefore it is the one varietal permitted to be trellised instead of head-pruned in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It ripens earlier than any of the other red Rhône varietals, and we typically harvest it throughout the month of September. Syrah's small clusters and small berries produce juice with concentrated flavors and significant tannin.

During vinification, we ferment Syrah in large open-top tanks, a process that exposes the juice to more oxygen and thereby softens the tannins and compensates for Syrah’s tendency toward reduction. Currently, we have approximately 13 acres of Syrah planted at Tablas Creek, which represents about 25% of our red Rhône production. Flavors and Aromas The Syrah grape itself is thick-skinned and dark, almost black. Wines made from Syrah are intense with a dark purple-black color. The wines taste of blackberry and black raspberry fruit, smoke, tar and black pepper, and have a smooth supple texture. Syrah reflects minerality well, and the chalky character of the tannins provides a wonderful backbone to softer, fruitier varietals such as Grenache and Counoise . In our Mourvèdre-based Esprit de Beaucastel , Syrah provides a deep blackish-purple color, minerality, spice, longevity and back-palate tannins. In our Grenache-based Côtes de Tablas , Syrah cuts the apparent sweetness of Grenache and produces wines that are more balanced between sweet and savory notes, with more mineral and spice.

Since 2002, we have bottled Syrah most years as a single varietal in limited quantities. In some vintages this is blended with a small quantity of Grenache, whose higher acidity opens up Syrah and focuses its fruit. This article originally appeared in a recent quarterly newsletter . Each newsletter, we spotlight the history and characteristics of one of our Rhone varietals. You can sign up for our mailing list. You can go back to the summaries of the different Rhône grape varietals . More Grapes information Syrah wine grape Viognier SYRAH WINE GRAPE Syrah or Shiraz is a dark-skinned grape grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce powerful red wines. Whether sold as Syrah or Shiraz, these wines enjoy great popularity. Syrah is used as a varietal and is also blended.

Following several years of strong planting, Syrah was estimated in 2004 to be the world's 7th most grown grape at 142,600 hectares (352,000 acres).[1] DNA profiling in 1999 found Syrah to be the offspring of two obscure grapes from southeastern France, Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche.[2] It should not be confused with Petite Sirah, a synonym for Durif, a cross of Syrah with Peloursin dating from 1880.

Wine description General: High tannins, high acidity, blackberry, dark chocolate; Medium climate: Mint, eucalyptus, smoked meat, black pepper; Hot climate: Liquorice, cloves Food pairing Pairs with grilled meats, whether steaks, hamburger, sausage, or lamb; pizza, game such as venison, boar, or pheasant Origin Rhone, California AVAs, Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley Notable wines Cote-Rotie, Hermitage, Chateauneuf-du-Pape Origin Syrah has a long documented history in the Rhone region of Southeastern France, and it was not known if it had originated in that region.

In 1998, a study conducted by Carole Meredith's research group in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at University of California, Davis used DNA typing and extensive grape reference material from the viticultural research station in Montpellier, France to conclude that Syrah was the offspring of the grape varieties Dureza (father) and Mondeuse Blanche (mother).[2][3][4][5][6] Dureza is a dark-skinned grape variety from the Ardeche region in France that has all but disappeared from the vineyards, and the preservation of such varieties is a speciality of Montpellier. Mondeuse Blanche is a white grape variety cultivated in the Savoy region, and is still found in very small amounts in that region's vineyards today. Both varieties are somewhat obscure today and have never achieved anything near Syrah's fame or popularity, and there is no record of them ever having been cultivated at long distances from their present home. Thus, both Syrah's parents come from a limited area in southeastern France, very close to northern RhÃ´ne.

Based on these findings, the researchers have concluded that Syrah originated from northern RhÃ´ne.[2][6] The DNA typing leaves no room for doubt in this matter, and the numerous other hypotheses of the grape's origin which have been forwarded during the years all completely lack support in form of documentary evidence or ampelographic investigations, be it by methods of classical botany or DNA. Instead, they seem to have been based primarily or solely on the name or synonyms of the variety. Because of varying orthography for grape names, especially for old varieties, this is in general very thin evidence. Despite this, origins such as Syracuse or the Iranian city of Shiraz have been proposed.[6] The parentage information does however not reveal how old the grape variety is, i.e., when the pollination of a Mondeuse Blanche vine by Dureza took place, leading to the original Syrah seed plant.

In the year AD 77, Pliny the Elder wrote in his Naturalis Historia about the wines of Vienne, where the Allobroges made famous and prized wine from a dark-skinned grape variety that had not existed some 50 years earlier, in Virgil's age.[7] Pliny called the vines of this wine Allobrogica, and it has been speculated that it could be today's Syrah. However, the description of the wine would also fit, for example, Dureza[2] and Pliny's observation that the vines of Allobrogica was resistant to cold is not entirely consistent with Syrah.[7] The name Shiraz It is called Syrah in its country of origin, France, as well as in the rest of Europe, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Uruguay and most of the United States. The name Shiraz became popular for this grape variety in Australia, where it has long been established as the most grown dark-skinned variety. In Australia it was also commonly called Hermitage up to the late 1980s, but since that name is also a French Protected designation of origin, this naming practice caused a problem in some export markets and was dropped.

The name Shiraz for this grape variety is also commonly used in South Africa and Canada. The grape is also known under many other synonyms that are used in various parts of the world including Antourenein Noir, Balsamina, Candive, Entournerein, Hignin Noir, Marsanne Noir, Schiras, Sirac, Syra, Syrac, Serine, and Sereine.[8] Legends of Syrah's origins come from one of its synonyms - Shiraz.[9] Because a city in Iran called Shiraz produced the well-known Shirazi wine,[10] legends claim that the Syrah grape originated in Shiraz and then was brought to RhÃ´ne. This association suggests that "Syrah" is a local French synonym and "Shiraz" is the proper name. There are at least two significantly different versions of the myth, giving different accounts of how the variety is supposed to have been brought from Shiraz to RhÃ´ne and differing up to 1,800 years in dating this event.

In one version, the Phocaeans should have brought Syrah/Shiraz to their colony around Marseilles (then known as Massilia), which was founded around 600 BC. The grape should then later have made its way to northern RhÃ´ne, which was never colonized by the Phocaeans. No documentary evidence exists to back up this legend, and it also requires that the variety later has vanished from the Marseilles region without leaving any trace.[7] In another version, the person who brought the variety to RhÃ´ne is even named, being the crusader Gaspard de StÃ©rimberg, who is supposed to have built the chapel at Hermitage.[7] Even before the advent of DNA typing of grapes, there were several problems with this legend. First, no ampelographic investigations of the grapes from Shiraz seem to have been made. Second, it is documented that the famous Shirazi wine was white,[10] ruling out the use of dark-skinned grapes such as Syrah, and no known descriptions of this wine's taste and character indicate any similarity whatsoever with red wines from the RhÃ´ne.

Third, it is highly doubtful if any crusader would have journeyed as far east as Persia, since the crusades were focused on the Holy Land. The legend connecting Syrah with the city of Shiraz in Iran may, however, be of French origin. James Busby wrote in Journal of a recent visit to the principal vineyards of Spain and France that the 1826 book Å’nologie FranÃ§aise "stated that, according to the tradition of the neighbourhood, the plant [Scyras] was originally brought from Shiraz in Persia, by one of the hermits of the mountain".[11] Since the name Shiraz has been used primarily in Australia in modern time, while the earliest Australian documents use the spelling "Scyras", it has been speculated (among others by Jancis Robinson[8]) that the name Shiraz is in fact a so-called "strinization" of Syrah's name via Scyras.

However, while the names Shiraz and Hermitage gradually seem to have replaced Scyras in Australia from the mid-19th century, the spelling Shiraz has also been documented in British sources back to at least the 1830s.[11][12][13] So, while the name or spelling Shiraz may be an effect of the English language on a French name, there is no evidence that it actually originated in Australia, although it was definitely the Australian usage and the Australian wines that made the use of this name popular. [7] Rise to fame The wines that made Syrah famous were those from Hermitage, the hill above the town Tain-l'Hermitage in northern RhÃ´ne where there is an hermitage (chapel) on the top, and where de StÃ©rimberg is supposed to have settled as a hermit after his crusades. Hermitage wines have for centuries had a reputation for being powerful and excellent.

While Hermitage was quite famous in the 18th and 19th centuries, and attracted interest from foreign oenophiles such as Bordeaux enthusiast Thomas Jefferson, it lost ground and foreign attention in the first half of the 20th century.[14] In the 18th and the first half of the 19th centuries, most Hermitage wine that left France did so as a blending component in Bordeaux wines. In an era when "clarets" were less powerful than today, and before appellation rules, red wines from warmer regions would be used for improvement (or adulteration, depending on the point of view) of Bordeaux wines.

While Spanish and Algerian wines are also known to have been used for this purpose, top Bordeaux chÃ¢teaux would use Hermitage to improve their wines, especially in weaker vintages.[5][15] Arrival in Australia In 1831, the Scotsman James Busby, often called "the Father of Australian viticulture", made a trip back to Europe to collect cuttings from vines (primarily from France and Spain) for introduction to Australia.[16] One of the varieties collected by him was Syrah, although Busby used the two spellings "Scyras" and "Ciras". The cuttings were planted in the Sydney Botanical Gardens, and in Hunter Valley, and in 1839 Modern history Modern history Syrah continues to be the main grape of the Northern RhÃ´ne and is associated with classic wines such as Hermitage, Cornas and Cote-Rotie. In the Southern Rhone it is used as a blending grape in such wines as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Cotes du Rhone, where Grenache usually makes up the bulk of the blend.

Although its best incarnations will age for decades, less-extracted styles may be enjoyed young for their lively red and blueberry characters and smooth tannin structure. Syrah has been widely used as a blending grape in the red wines of many countries due to its fleshy fruit mid-palate, balancing the weaknesses of other varieties and resulting in a "complete" wine. From the 1970s and even more from the 1990s, Syrah has enjoyed increased popularity, and plantings of the variety has expanded significantly in both old and new locations.[6] In the early 2000s, it broke into the top 10 of varieties planted worldwide for the first time.[1] Syrah wines Syrah is widely used to make a dry red table wine, which can be both varietal or blended. Four main uses can be distinguished: Varietal Syrah or Shiraz. Of the better-known wines, this is the style of Hermitage in northern RhÃ´ne or Australian Shiraz. Syrah blended with a small amount of Viognier. This is the traditional style of CÃ´te-RÃ´tie in northern RhÃ´ne.

Syrah as a roughly equal blending component for Cabernet Sauvignon. In modern times, this blend originated in Australia, so it is often known as Shiraz-Cabernet. Syrah as a minor blending component for Grenache and MourvÃ¨dre. This is the traditional style of ChÃ¢teauneuf-du-Pape of southern RhÃ´ne, and this blend is often referred to as GSM in Australia. Smaller amounts of Syrah are also used in the production of other wine styles, such as rose wine, fortified wine in Port wine style, and sparkling red wine.[18] While Australian sparkling Shiraz traditionally have had some sweetness, a number of Australian winemakers also make a full-bodied sparkling dry Shiraz, that contains the complexity and sometimes earthy notes that are normally found in still wine.[19] Due to their concentrated flavours and high tannin content, many premium Syrah wines are at their best after some considerable bottle aging. In exceptional cases, this may be 15 years or longer.

Syrah has one of the highest recommended wine serving temperatures at 65 Â°F (18 Â°C).[20] Taste and flavours Wines made from Syrah are often powerfully flavoured and full-bodied. The variety produces wines with a wide range of flavor notes, depending on the climate and soils where it is grown, as well as other viticultural practices chosen. Aroma characters can range from violets to berries (usually dark as opposed to red), chocolate, espresso and black pepper. No one aroma can be called "typical" though blackberry and pepper are often noticed. With time in the bottle these "primary" notes are moderated and then supplemented with earthy or savory "tertiary" notes such as leather and truffle. "Secondary" flavor and aroma notes are those associated with several things, generally winemakers' practices (such as oak barrel and yeast regimes). Syrah or Shiraz on labels The Syrah-dominated appellations (AOCs) of northern Rhone have, like most other French appellations and regions, no tradition of varietal labelling of their wines.

Indeed, such practices are generally disallowed under AOC rules, and only the AOC name (such as Cote-Rotie, Crozes-Hermitage or Hermitage) appears on the label. Varietal labelling of Syrah/Shiraz wines is therefore a practice which has emerged in the New World, and primarily in Australia. To confuse matters, in northern Rhone, different clones of genuine Syrah are referred to as Petite Syrah (small Syrah) or Gros Syrah (large Syrah) depending on the size of their berries, with Petite Syrah being considered the superior version, giving wines higher in phenolics.[6] As a general rule, most Australian and South African wines are labelled Shiraz, and most European wines (from such regions where varietal labelling is practiced) are labelled Syrah. In other countries, practices vary and winemakers (or wine marketers) sometimes choose either Syrah or Shiraz to signify a stylistic difference in the wine they have made. "Syrah"-labelled wines are sometimes thought to be more similar to classic Northern RhÃ´ne reds; presumably more elegant, tannic, smoke-flavoured and restrained with respect to their fruit component.

"Shiraz"-labelled wines, on the other hand, would then be more similar to archetypical Australian or other New World examples; presumably made from riper berries, more fruit-driven, higher in alcohol, less obviously tannic, peppery rather than smokey, usually more easily approached when young, and possibly slightly sweetish in impression. It must however be realized that this rule of thumb is unevenly applied.[21] Syrah in different countries Syrah is a variety that during the last few decades has been imported for cultivation in several countries. It is primarily grown in warmer regions. Worldwide plantations of Syrah have increased considerably in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and both Syrah-labelled and Shiraz-labelled wines are on the increase.[6] It is grown in many wine producing regions around the world, with concentrations in Australia, The Rhone Valley in France, and the US. It is often used as a blending grape in Spain and Italy as well. It is also planted in Portugal, which favor making varietal Syrah wine, and not only blending with other types. France Syrah, as it is known in France, is grown throughout the Rhone valley.

The wines that are made from it vary greatly, even over small changes in the vines locations. The differences in the soil quality as well as the changes in the slope of the terrain tend to produce different styles of wine. Ranging from the mineral and tannic nature of Hermitage, to fruity and perfumed in the case of Cote Rotie.[21] Syrah is also a key component to many blends. It may be used to add structure and color to Grenache in southern RhÃ´ne blends, including CÃ´tes-du-RhÃ´ne and ChÃ¢teauneuf-du-Pape.[22] Syrah is also the only red grape used in the wines of the northern RhÃ´ne.[23] In 1968, there existed only 2,700 hectares (6,700 acres) of Syrah vineyards in France, primarily in the traditional appellations of northern RhÃ´ne, which at that time had not received much attention in the wine world for several decades, and the vineyards of which were not planted to full capacity.

After the wines of northern RhÃ´ne were "rediscovered" by wine writers in the 1970s, plantings expanded considerably. This trend received an extra boost in the 1980s and 1990s, when influential wine writer Robert M. Parker, Jr. started to award very high scores, up to the "perfect" score of 100 points, to wines of some RhÃ´ne producers. The popularity of Australian Shiraz on the export market may also have played a role. 1988, total French plantings stood at 27,000 hectares (67,000 acres), and the 1999 viticultural survey found 50,700 hectares (125,000 acres) of Syrah vineyards.

France thus has the world's largest plantations of Syrah.[6] While previously unused parts of the northern RhÃ´ne vineyards have been planted with Syrah as part of the expansion, the major part of the new French Syrah plantations are located in southern RhÃ´ne (which covers a much larger vineyard area than the northern part) and Languedoc-Roussillon.[6] While southern RhÃ´ne produces relatively few wines where Syrah is in the majority, the proportion of Syrah in the blended wines of this region has been on the rise. Languedoc-Roussillon uses Syrah to produce both Southern RhÃ´ne-like blends with Grenache, Australian-style blends with Cabernet Sauvignon, and varietal Syrah.

Australia The Syrah grape was introduced into Australia in 1832 by James Busby, an immigrant who brought vine clippings from Europe with him, and it is almost invariably called Shiraz.[5] Today it is Australia's most popular red grape, but has not always been in such favor; in the 1970s, white wine was so popular that growers were ripping out unprofitable Shiraz and Grenache vineyards, even those with very old vines. Many factors, including the success of brands like Lindemans (part of Foster's Group) and Jacob's Creek in the UK, as well as Rosemount in the US and UK, were responsible for a dramatic expansion of plantings during the 1980s and 1990s; a similar trajectory occurred in California. However, the biggest factor in this expansion during the 1990s was a federal government tax subsidy to those planting new vineyards.

In the 2005-2006 growing season, total Shiraz plantations in Australia stood at 41,115 hectares (101,600 acres), of which 39,087 hectares (96,590 acres) were old enough to be productive. These vines yielded a total of 422,430 tonnes of Shiraz grapes for wine production. Shiraz is thus the most planted variety in Australia.[24] Australia thus has the world's second largest plantations of Syrah/Shiraz, after France.[6] Victorian regions include Heathcote, roughly 1.5 hours north of Melbourne. Cooler climate regions such as Western Australia's Margaret River produce Shiraz with marginally less alcohol content and often in a more traditional French style. A well known example of the Shiraz grape in Australian viticulture is the Penfolds "Grange". This wine was created by winemaker Max Schubert in 1951, and has a reputation of aging well. The Penfolds Grange is predominantly Shiraz, but often includes a small quantity of Cabernet Sauvignon.

It is usually a multi-regional blend of quality South Australian Shiraz, with the Barossa Valley playing an important role, and matured in new American Oak. Other well known Australian Shiraz wines include, the Henschke "Hill of Grace" and the Penfolds "RWT". Recently, Australian Shiraz producers have started to add up to 4% Viognier to their Shiraz to add apricot tones to the wine's nose and palate. With such a small percentage added, the producer wasn't obliged to declare the blend on the label. In the past 5 years however, it's becoming increasingly fashionable to label the wine Shiraz Viognier as Viognier gains consumer acceptance in the market place. The practise of blending Viognier with Syrah has actually been common for years in the Northern RhÃ´ne Valley region of Cote-Rotie.[25] Shiraz is also the "S" in "GSM" (Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvrdre), which is common Australian designation for a Chateneuf-du-Pape-like blend.

South Africa South African plantations have expanded significantly, from 1% of the vineyard area in 1995 to 9.7% in 2007[26] making up a total area under cultivation of 9,856 hectares (24,350 acres). In South Africa, the variety is predominately known as Shiraz, but the designation Syrah is used for "RhÃ´ne-style" wines.[9] Some see this variety as the "great hope" for South African wines.[27] United States In the United States, wine produced from the grape is normally called by its French name, Syrah. However, in cases where winemakers choose to follow a New World style, similar to Penfolds Grange, they may choose to label their wines as Shiraz.[21] Under American wine laws, either name may appear on the label. Syrah first appeared as a wine grape in California in the 1970s, where it was planted by a group of viticulturists who called themselves "Rhone rangers."[22] Although most plantings of the grape are in California, there are increasing amounts of it being grown in Washington state.

California Syrahs, much like those in France, vary a great deal based on the climate and terroir that they inhabit. In exceptionally warm regions, such as parts of Napa, the wine is often blended with other RhÃ´ne varieties. Other appellations, primarily mountainous ones, tend to produce varietal-based wines that can stand on their own.[28] Syrah was introduced into Washington state in 1985 by the Woodinville, Washington Columbia Winery. Expanding at a significant rate, it is used to produce single varietial wines as well as being blended with grapes such as Grenache, Cinsault, and Viognier.[29] Argentina Syrah plantations in Argentina increased from less than 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) in 1990 to 9,500 hectares (23,000 acres) in 2002.[6] Syrah has occasionally been used as a blending component with Argentina's signature dark-skinned grape Malbec to provide an "Argentinian take" on the Australian Cabernet-Shiraz blend.

Chile Around 2005, there were 2,500 hectares (6,200 acres) of Syrah in Chile.[6] See Also: Wine Exam - Food Science And Technology 1120 with Waters at The Ohio State University - StudyBlue What was Cato the Elder's contribution to winemaking? Writings on vineyard design A ___ produces the highest quality juice Bladder press The most common/best known California red and white wines are Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay Which white varietal wine pairs best with spicy food Gewuertztraminer The Roman forum for discussion and wine drinking is known as Convivium The grade of German wine you are most likely to see in a grocery store is QbA Wines made with Merlot grapes pair well with Red meat, White meat, and Hard Cheeses What US vintner popularized characterizing wines by grape varietal the wine contained Robert Mondavi The most popular drinking game at a symposium was Kottabos "Petite Syrah" refers to a ype of Syrah grape size, not its sensory impact True Which of the following is not a well-known French white wine region?

Rhone Valley Which of the following was used by the ancient Romans for medicinal purposes? vinum absinthiates In the 1860s, the most productive wine area in Ohio was the Northeast Which of the following wine/social standing pairing is incorrect? lora/upper class Which of the following is true concerning Pinot noir grapes? Wines pair best with white meat and shellfish The earliest archaeological evidence for wine production goes back to 7000 BCE A wine with 24° Brix and 2° residual Brix would have an alcohol content closest to 12% Which of the following was not a contribution of the Greeks to winemaking? Vineyard design The standard volume of a wine bottle is 750 ml The southernmost main wine region in France is Rhone Valley Germany is best known for its Rieslings True Organisms in this genus are responsible for malolactic fermentation Oenococcus Which region in Burgundy doesn't produce red wines? Maconnais What is the difference between a symposium and a convivium Women were allowed at a convivium but not at a symposium The ___ press is used to make wine from V. labrusca grapes?

Rack and cloth The Roman version of the Greek drinking party was known as a Symposium Which of the following varietal wines would pair best with dessert Muscat Bordeaux White wines are different from red wines because the juice is pressed out of the grapes ___ fermentation Before Sulfite is regulated in wine because Some people are sensitive to sulfites When tasting a new wine, it is best to fill the glass ___ full 1/3 A common method of controlling the growth of spoilage organisms in winemaking is called Sulfiting The Rioja wine region in Spain is located in the ___ part of the country North central Australia is best known for growing the ___ varietal Shiraz Sugar in grape juice is most often expressed as degrees Bx What fungal pest could actually be a good thing if correctly managed bunch rot What effect will a cooler-than-normal spring have on a wine grape harvest?

Delay the harvest California's wine's "defining moment" was the Judgement of Paris, which happened in what year 1976 ___ is one way to change the fixed acidity in wine maloactic fermentation The 3 largest regions for red wines in France are Rhone, Bordeaux, Burgundy The white varietal what Washington state is known for is Riesling Which of the following isn't true about Cabernet sauvignon grapes wines pair best with pork and soft cheese Red wines are best served near room temperature The color of red wine comes mostly from Anthocyanins "Dry" wine has a residual sugar concentration of 0.5-1º Bx Brown overtones in white wine can be indicative of Temperature abuse Botrytized German wine carries the word trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) The white varietal most closely related to pinot noir is Pinot gris Carbon dioxide poisoning is a threat only when making red wines True Pliny the Elder's contribution to winemaking was writings on cultivar differences and growth regions Chenin blanc grapes are commonly-grown varietal in Loire valley Pungent aromas in wine are often caused by Fusel alcohols The absolute minimum temperature for most V.

vinifera grapes is -10º C False ___ causes wine to spoil, resulting in a sour taste, like vinegar Acetobacter Which best describes the flavor of wines made with Sauvignon blanc grapes? herbal If a vineyard receives excessive rainfall, the excess rainfall will encourage fungal diseases In California, grape harvest usually happens around September Organisms in the genus ___ are considered a nuisance in California wineries but are acceptable (to a degree) in French wines Bettanomyces White wines are generally best served at 43 - 53º F Prior to 1860, 1/3 of US wine was produced near lake Erie is based on the Malbec grape Which of the following negatively impacted Ohio wineries anti-German sentiment during WWI Which state is responsible for the vast amount of wine production in the US California Which of the following outlines the standard drinking ritual in ancient Greece Wine mixed with water in a krater - contents of krater poured into several oinochoe - oinochoe used to fill individual drinking vessels called cylix What Bronze Age ruler was first to popularize wine Ashurnasirphal II What is a negociant?

A wine merchant that produces their own wines from grapes, must, and bulk wine to sell Which of the following is not a legal fining method in the US blue fining A late frost (ex. in March - April) will most likely reduce the wine grape yields by damaging buds Which of the following is considered a volatile acidity acetic acid The most expensive method of fining involves using egg whites are related to Fume blanc grapes A "sensible" amount of kraters to be consumed at a symposium was 3 What compound is most responsible for the acidity of unripened grapes malic acid Which of the following is not a red grape varietal used in Bordeaux wine Malbec Pressing typically happens ___ fermentation when making a red wine After Which of the following is a reason why the Greeks adopted wine drinking?

to differentiate themselves from the Persians Which factor favored the spread of wine throughout the ancient world sea trade ___ is not known for its white wines Italy A minimum wine label requirements in the US are established by the Tax and Trade Bureau Gamay grapes are ___ to grow Difficult Can be used to measure the amount of sugar in grape juice Can be used to monitor the level of alcohol production in during beer production is measured using a hydrometer the most historically significant grape vine pest was Phylloxera A wine maker is known as vintner The "father" of Ohio wine was Nicholas Longworth Which country below contains regions with a Mediterranean climate suitable for growing V. vinifera?

Spain Which list below lists red varietals from boldest to least bold Syrah, Merlot, Gamay converts malic acid to lactic acid, resulting in a mellower taste Wine with a small amount of carbonation is called Crackling wine What best describes the flavor of wines made with Sauvignon blanc grapes melon Gamay grapes are best known for Beaujolais Nouveau A drinking party with philosophical debate in ancient Greece was known as a symposium The color of red wine comes mostly from anthocyanins An older cane that has developed a woody stem (in a process called lignification) is known as cordon What organism causes noble rot Botrytis cinerea The word for wine came from Georgians Which of the following varietals pairs best with spicy food Syrah The largest (by production) wine region in France is Bordeaux "Sweet red table wine" is not a valid wine type in the US False At what point do grape berries begin to change color sometime after the unfertilized flowers fall the pH of grape juice from mature grapes is ___ than grape juice from unripened grapes higher Napa Valley is located in North Coast California Syrah - The Wine Institute The Wine Institute Home > Press Room > Wine Fact Sheets >

 California Syrah California Syrah Syrah is a noble grape variety that can produce some serious, long-lived red wines.

The usual aroma and flavor descriptors include blackberry, cassis, black pepper, smoke, as well as dry, dark and tannic. The Syrah Grape Through DNA testing, Syrah has shown to be a cross of a black variety, Dureza, and a white variety, Mondeuse, both with origins in France's RhÃ´ne region and earlier fabled origins in the Middle East. The grape is also known as Sirah, and in Australia and South Africa, it is called Shiraz. It should not be confused with Petite Sirah, which is altogether a different grape variety, identified more recently as Durif through DNA testing. Although Syrah acreage has existed in California for some time, such as the pre-Prohibition plantings in Mendocino County, substantial plantings have occurred in the 1990s. Today, the most acreage is in San Luis Obispo County with 2,458 acres, followed by San Joaquin County, 1,946 acres, and Sonoma County, 1,855 acres.

Syrahâs grape crush of 114,298 tons in 2014 accounted for almost three percent of the total state winegrape crush. Top 10 California Counties for Syrah Acreage, 2014 County Australia's Wine Regions - Tourism Australia Australia's Wine Regions Australia's Wine Regions Australia has more than 60 designated wine regions across the country and has developed a worldwide reputation for its award-winning wines. Site Requires Javascript - turn on javascript! Australia.com does not support the internet browser you are using. Please upgrade to a more recent browser so that you can explore the destinations and experiences that await you as you plan your Australian holiday. Welcome to the official Australian tourism website. This site uses cookies. Find out more . Add Share Learn more about Australia’s acclaimed wine regions, from Western Australia’s Margaret River to the Barossa Valley near Adelaide. Australia has more than 60 designated wine regions across the country and has developed a worldwide reputation for its award-winning wines. Discover some of the world's oldest shiraz vineyards in South Australia's Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, or award-winning sauvignon blanc in Western Australia's Margaret River.

Join one of the winery events held in the Hunter Valley near Sydney, or taste the flagship chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling wines of the Yarra Valley near Melbourne. Almost every wine growing region has an annual festival where local wine, food and culture can be sampled. The largest is the biennial Tasting Australia, which showcases some of the very best Australia has to offer. Guide to the Hunter Valley Guide to the Hunter Valley Barossa Valley South Australia's Barossa Valley is one of Australia's oldest and the world's finest wine producing regions. First settled in 1842 by European immigrants, it still retains its old-world charm. There are around 150 wineries and cellar doors in the Barossa Valley. The Barossa Valley is also renowned for its fresh seasonal produce, artisan food producers and award-winning restaurants. Drive the Barossa's food and wine trails or explore the countryside by bicycle. You can also tour the region by motorbike, vintage car, hot air balloon or helicopter. Unwind in a day spa or play golf on one of the championship courses. Clare Valley The Clare Valley is one of Australia's oldest wine regions.

It is best known for its Riesling wine, and is often called the home of Australian Riesling. Its Mediterranean-style climate is ideal for the production of quality Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Merlot grapes. The Clare Valley has more than 40 wineries, most of which are small and located along a 40 kilometre corridor between the towns of Auburn and Clare. Walk or cycle the Riesling Trail which connects many of the region's major attractions and cellar doors, or travel in style and explore the region by limousine. McLaren Vale McLaren Vale boasts around 65 wineries, mostly boutique-sized. About 270 independent grape growers can also be found here. Visit weekend farmer's markets and pack your picnic hamper with fresh bread, cheese, olives and fruit or linger over lunch in a picturesque vineyard restaurant. Walk, cycle or horse ride along the Shiraz Trail, which follows an old railway line from McLaren Vale to Willunga. Then soak up the region's artistic culture on one of the many driving and walking trails.

Yarra Valley The Yarra Valley is home to more than 80 wineries, ranging from small, family-owned operations to large estates. The region is renowned for producing Australia's finest pinot noir and sparkling wine, along with a range of other cool-climate wines. It was Victoria's first planted wine region back in 1838. The region is known for its fresh produce including freshwater salmon, trout and caviar, organically grown fruit and vegetables and handmade cheeses and preserves. Follow one of the many self-drive wine trails and fill your picnic hamper on the Yarra Valley Food Trail or at the many huge, fresh food markets. Swan Valley Just north of Perth on the Swan River, lies the Swan Valley, Western Australia's oldest wine region. Handpick a bottle or two from one of the Swan Valley's state-of-the-art boutique wineries. Follow the Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail and indulge your appetite in fine restaurants, relaxed winery cafes, breweries and distilleries, and roadside stalls selling fresh local produce. Dine alfresco in vineyard restaurants or pack a picnic and head to a national park.

Cycle the historic Swan Valley Heritage Trail or explore the region in a romantic horse-drawn carriage, chauffeured limousine or a gourmet cruise on the Swan River. Moorilla, Tasmania Wine meets Mona Art Price includes return ferry transfers, Mona entry, guided vineyard and winery tour, lunch and tutored tasting. From A$ 150 /per person Enjoy a guided winery tour, wine tasting and a 3 course lunch with matching wines. From A$ 240 /per person Change your country and language Change your country Business Events © Tourism Australia 2017 *Product Disclaimer: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through this website. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia.

Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site. {"PageInfo":{"component":"PageInfo"},"Hero":{"component":"Hero","subTitle":"","title":"Wine Regions"},"TagCloud":{"tagList":"[Food and Wine]","component":"TagCloud"},"ImageMapWithCityLink":{"component":"ImageMapWithCityLink"},"WhatYouCanSee":{"component":"WhatYouCanSee","title":""},"SpecialOffer":{"component":"SpecialOffer","altText":"Vasse Felix, Western Australia","price":"240","pricePerText":"per person","currency":"From A$","text":"Epicurean Experience<\/b> Enjoy a guided winery tour, wine tasting and a 3 course lunch with matching wines.","title":"Vasse Felix, Western Australia","viewMoreInformationLink":""}} Is it Syrah, or is it Shiraz? | Restaurant Reviews Rehoboth Beach DE Area Is it Syrah, or is it Shiraz?

by Bill McManus / Updated on May 31, 2014 Grape Chaser of note, Bill McManus, posts some informative articles about wines in general. Enjoy! Origin Syrah has a long documented history in the Rhone region of Southeastern France, but its not known if it originated there. According to Wikipedia, The DNA typing leaves no room for doubt in this matter, and the numerous other hypotheses of the grape’s origin which have been forwarded during the years all completely lack support in form of documentary evidence, be it by methods of classical botany or DNA. Instead, they seem to have been based primarily or solely on the name or synonyms of the variety. Because of varying orthography for grape names, especially for old varieties, this is in general very thin evidence. Despite this, origins such as Syracuse or the Iranian city of Shiraz have been proposed. The parentage information does not reveal how old the grape variety is. The wines that made Syrah famous were those from Hermitage. For centuries, Hermitage wines have had a reputation for being powerful and excellent.

While Hermitage was quite famous in the 18th and 19th centuries, and attracted interest from foreign oenophiles such as Bordeaux enthusiast Thomas Jefferson, it lost ground and foreign attention in the first half of the 20th century. In the 18th and the first half of the 19th centuries, most Hermitage wine that left France did so as a blending component in Bordeaux wines. In an era when “clarets” were less powerful than today, and before appellation rules, red wines from warmer regions would be used for improvement (adulteration, depending on the point of view) of Bordeaux wines. While Spanish and Algerian wines are also known to have been used for this purpose, top Bordeaux châteaux would use Hermitage to improve their wines, especially in weaker vintages. Syrah continues to be the main grape of the Northern Rhône. In the Southern Rhône it is used as a blending grape. Although its best incarnations will age for decades, less-extracted styles may be enjoyed young for their lively red and blueberry characters and smooth tannin structure.

Syrah has been widely used as a blending grape in the red wines of many countries due to its fleshy fruit mid-palate, balancing the weaknesses of other varieties and resulting in a “complete” wine. From the 1970s and even more from the 1990s, Syrah has enjoyed increased popularity and plantings of the variety have expanded significantly in both old and new locations. In the early 2000s, it broke into the top 10 of varieties planted worldwide for the first time. Syrah wines Syrah is widely used to make a dry red table wine which can be both varietal or blended. Four main uses can be distinguished: Varietal Syrah or Shiraz. Of the better-known wines, this is the style of Hermitage in northern Rhône or Australian Shiraz. Syrah blended with a small amount of Vioigner. This is the traditional style of Côte-Rôtie in northern Rhône. Syrah as a roughly equal blending component for Cabernet Sauvignon. In modern times, this blend originated in Australia, so it is often known as Shiraz-Cabernet.

Smaller amounts of Syrah are also used in the production of other wine styles, such as fortified wine in Port wine style, and sparkling red wine. While Australian sparkling Shiraz traditionally have had some sweetness, a number of Australian winemakers also make a full-bodied sparkling dry Shiraz that contains the complexity and sometimes earthy notes that are normally found in still wine. Due to their concentrated flavors and high tannin content, many premium Syrah wines are at their best after some considerable bottle aging. In exceptional cases, this may be 15 years or longer. Syrah has one of the highest recommended wine serving temperatures at 65 °F (18 °C) The name Shiraz It is called Syrah in France, its country of origin, as well as in the rest of Europe, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Uruguay and most of the United States. The name Shiraz became popular for this grape variety in Australia where it has long been established as the most grown dark-skinned variety. In Australia it was also commonly called Hermitage up to the late 1980s. The name Shiraz for this grape variety is also commonly used in South Africa and Canada.

Legends of Syrah’s origins come from one of its synonyms, Shiraz, because a city in Iran called Shiraz produced the well-known Shirazi Wine. Legends claim that the Syrah grape originated in Shiraz and then was brought to Rhône. This association suggests that “Syrah” is a local French synonym and “Shiraz” is the proper name. Arrival in Australia In 1831, the Scotsman James Busby, often called “the Father of Australian viticulture,” made a trip back to Europe to collect cuttings from vines (primarily from France and Spain) for introduction to Australia. One of the varieties collected by him was Syrah, although Busby used the two spellings “Scyras” and “Ciras”. The cuttings were planted in the Sydney Botanical Gardens, and in Hunter Valley, and in 1839 were brought from Sydney to South Australia. By the 1860s, Syrah was established as an important variety in Australia. The Syrah grape introduced into Australia in 1832 is almost invariably called Shiraz. Today it is Australia’s most popular red grape, but has not always been in such favor.

In the 1970s, white wine was so popular that growers were ripping out unprofitable Shiraz and Grenache vineyards, even those with very old vines. Many factors, including the success of brands like Lindemans (part of Fosters Group) and Jacobs Creek in the UK, as well as Rosemont in the US and UK, were responsible for a dramatic expansion of plantings during the 1980s and 1990s. A similar trajectory occurred in California. However, the biggest factor in this expansion during the 1990s was a federal government tax subsidy to those planting new vineyards. In the 2005-2006 growing season, total Shiraz plantations in Australia stood at 41,115 hectares (101,600 acres), of which 39,087 hectares (96,590 acres) were old enough to be productive. These vines yielded a total of 422,430 tons of Shiraz grapes for wine production.

Shiraz is thus the most planted variety in Australia, with the world’s second largest plantations of Syrah/Shiraz, after France. Victorian regions include Heathcote, roughly 1.5 hours north of Melbourne. Cooler climate regions such as Western Australia’s Margaret River produce Shiraz with marginally less alcohol content and often in a more traditional French style. A well-known example of the Shiraz grape in Australian viticulture is the Penfolds Grange. This wine was created by winemaker Max Schubert in 1951, and has a reputation of aging well. The Penfolds Grange is predominantly Shiraz, but often includes a small quantity of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is usually a multi-regional blend of quality South Australian Shiraz, with the Barossa Valley playing an important role, and matured in new American Oak. Other well-known Australian Shiraz wines include Henschke “Hill of Grace” and the Penfolds “RWT”. Recently, Australian Shiraz producers have started to add up to 4% Viognier to their Shiraz to bring apricot tones to the wine’s nose and palate.

With such a small percentage added, the producer wasn’t obliged to declare the blend on the label. In the past 5 years however, it’s becoming increasingly fashionable to label the wine Shiraz Viognier as Viognier gains consumer acceptance in the market place. The practice of blending Viognier with Syrah has actually been common for years in the Northern Rhône Valley region of Cote-Rotie. Shiraz is also the “S” in “GSM” (Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvèdre), which is common Australian designation for a Châteneuf-du-Pape-like blend. Taste and Flavors Wines made from Syrah are often powerfully flavored and full-bodied. The variety produces wines with a wide range of flavor notes, depending on the climate and soils where it is grown, as well as other viticultural practices chosen. Aroma characters can range from violets to berries (usually dark as opposed to red), chocolate, espresso and black pepper. No one aroma can be called “typical” though blackberry and pepper are often noticed.

With time in the bottle these “primary” notes are moderated and then supplemented with earthy or savory “tertiary” notes such as leather and truffle. “Secondary” flavor and aroma notes are those associated with several things, including winemakers’ practices such as oak barrel and yeast regimes. So, you say Syrah, I say Shiraz. All together now, Que Syrah, Shiraz! Cheers! About the Author Bill McManus Of course, our original grape chaser, Bill McManus, continues to lend his technical expertise to explain and demystify wine terminology. View all articles written by Bill McManus

Question: In wine production what is the syrah grape almost invariably called in Australia?
Answer: Shiraz