Hello my dear friends! Thanks for finding me here again. Today we are going to explore a very special grape, about which much has been speculated. You'll probably have a hard time spelling its name correctly, but of course you've heard of Syrah before. Wait a second, are Syrah and Shiraz the same thing? Where does Syrah originally come from? Which countries produce what? Let’s have a look!
The origin of this varietal has been linked to Syria, Rome and even Iran. The definitive answer came in 1998 when DNA profiling was carried out on the local vines to pinpoint their origin. By the way, Syrah should not be confused with Petite Sirah, a cross of Syrah with Peloursin dating from 1880.
"Some people think it comes from Persians and others from Sicily where you have Syracuse city," says grape geneticist Jose Vouillamoz. "But today we know all of that is wrong. Testing was done by two different labs and it was really a surprise to find out that Syrah is a natural spontaneous crossing between two local vines from this area." Exactly, the reality is that Syrah was born and bred in France.
These studies have shown that the variety was created crossing an old southern France grape called Dureza with the Mondeuse Blanche 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.
It remains a bit of a mystery exactly how Syrah became Shiraz. 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. Syrah is how the variety was originally referred to while Shiraz is how it became known in Australia, with the term then being adopted elsewhere for wines that share Australian Shiraz’s style.
As previously mentioned, Syrah is one of the most important grape varieties of the Rhone Valley region of France, where it is used as monovarietal or in many blends. Australia is the second biggest producer of Syrah, so much so that it accounts for about 40% of the country's total wine output. It has been said that Barossa Valley is the ‘spiritual home’ of Australian Shiraz, much due to the iconic status of historic producer Penfolds. Grange became Australia’s first serious collectable wine and set a benchmark all Australian winemakers aspired to. Blends of Shiraz and Cabernet have also been an Australian specialty for decades. Other great Shiraz wines include Bin 95 and Henschke Hill of Grace.
The sixth most planted grape in the world, ranking among the roster of international varieties.
The entire 'New World' has also been seduced by this rich and spicy grape with varietal wines being produced in important quantities in South Africa, New Zealand, the United States, Chile, and Argentina. There, the name 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’s wine recommendations come from Desquiciado Winery (Argentina) and Ventisquero (Chile). Argentinian Syrah is heavy with blackberries and raspberries notes yet has powerful tannin and bracing acidity. The grape is typically blended with Malbec and creates as fabulous response to the huge Australian Cabernet/Shiraz blend.
Desquiciado Syrah (90% Syrah, 10% Grenache) use grapes from soils rich in clay. The maceration lasts about 18 days approximately. Once the fermentation is finished, it is aged for 3 months in 3rd and 4th use barrels, and after this aging period, the wine returns to steel tanks with toasted French oak staves. Once the winter is over, the wine is ‘cut’ with Grenache from the East and bottle it. It shows a ruby red color with equal reflections. On the nose it gives notes of red fruits and berries intertwined with notes of pepper and vanilla. On the palate, it has good acidity and fruitiness. This is a truly inviting Syrah.
Grey (100% Syrah) from Ventisquero, has a deep dark ruby color with violet notes. With intense aromas on the nose, they stand out soft notes of berries such as blueberries and blackberries, along with aromas of black pepper and mineral notes of granite. The palate is expressive, full-bodied, a structured wine that is given by a great presence of round and ripe tannins, and firm, which fill the mouth and leave it velvety with a pleasant fruity finish and a long persistence. It is recommended to drink at a temperature between 16-18° C. Pairs well with deer, wild boar, as well as pork and lamb.
And that's a wrap for today!
Have a happy week and... let's meet here next Wednesday again! Until then, Santé!
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