Grape Varietals / Wine Basics

Wine Baby’s Guide to: Syrah/Shiraz

I am very excited today to talk about my favourite varietal: the big, the bold, the peppery – SYRAH! Or as it’s also known, Shiraz.

This small-berried, thick-skinned black grape goes by two names, depending on where it’s grown, or which style it’s mimicking.

While it was born in the Rhone Valley in France, and the French style is considered the classic, Australian Shiraz is just as popular. I’ll be switching between the two depending on which style I’m referring to.

Syrah/Shiraz is also commonly used to make rose wines, but today we will be focusing on their full expression.

TASTING SYRAH/SHIRAZ

Okay, someone has handed you a glass of Syrah/Shiraz. Yay! Lucky you! Now what?

Let’s walk through what you can expect from a glass of Syrah or Shiraz so you know what to look for.

Colour

Because Syrah/Shiraz is a bold, fully bodied red, you can expect a fair bit of intensity in the colour. I’ve had some Syrah’s that are almost completely opaque, they are so rich in colour.

Nose

The standout identifier in Syrah/Shiraz is the pepper, derived from an aromatic compound called rotundone. It can be powerful black pepper, white pepper, or even green peppercorn, but there will always be pepper to help you identify what you are drinking.

Then in general terms, you will usually taste an array of black fruits like blueberry, black cherry, blackberry and plum. If the climate it was grown in was cooler, like a classic Rhone style Syrah, you may get a few fresh red fruits in there, and some herbal qualities; but if it comes from a hotter climate like Australian Shiraz, you will be leaning more into cooked or dried fruits, meatiness, and even licorice.

You can also expect influences from the use of oak, or from ageing, like leather and smoke.

In some, you may even get notes of chocolate. Admittedly, I don’t have a great nose, but this is one of the aromas that I pick up on rather quick!

Palate

Again, this will be impacted by the climate the grapes were grown in. The body ranges from medium to full, with fuller bodies being the result of hotter climates.

The tannins, acidity, and alcohol will all follow suit, ranging from medium to high. But it’s always dry.

Personally, I think the bolder the better! But that’s all up to individual preference.

PAIRING SYRAH/SHIRAZ

If you’re looking to pair this with food, go bold to match the intensity of these flavours. Try darker meats like a classic steak with simple pepper to let the wine be the star, or foods with powerful exotic seasoning that can compete.

SHOPPING FOR SYRAH/SHIRAZ

If you’re looking to purchase some quality Syrah/Shiraz, I find the simplest thing is to know which country section to head towards in the liquor store.

Syrah/Shiraz is grown all over the world now, but if you want a good starting point, go for the namesakes: France and Australia.

Most of the world’s Syrah is grown in France, with the best quality bottles coming out of the Northern Rhone. Look for Hermitage or Cote-Rotie. Syrah is the only black grape that producers in these regions are allowed to grow!

The second largest volume of Shiraz is planted in Australia, but a lot of it is destined for lower quality mass production wines. If you want a standout, look for a bottle from Barossa Valley, which has some of the oldest Shiraz vines in the world. If you can’t find that, Hunter Valley and McLaren Vale are also well known.

Tried those and want to branch out further?

Syrah/Shiraz is also very well-established in California and Washington State in the U.S., and you know I’ll always recommend the Okanagan Valley in Canada. The Southern portion of the Valley has some fantastic heat for ripening those grapes. (It’s also where I get my favourite Syrah, the Syrah Cuvee Classique from Le Vieux Pin!)

Or, look for some up-and-comers out of South America, which are also showing great promise. Argentina and Chile would be on my shopping list.

Need some recommendations? Check these out:

• Review: 2017 Le Vieux Pin Syrah “Cuvee Classique”

Which style do you prefer, Syrah or Shiraz? If you’ve got a favourite bottle, let me know in the comments!