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Syrah / Shiraz

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you say potato...

The wine world like the world of fashion is subject to trends. Wines go in and out of style, sales will skyrocket for a time, tastes will change and new grapes become the sales leaders. Over the past decade the trendsetting wine was Merlot. Light fruity and easy to drink this wine is a food and people pleaser. But there is a new grape in town, smoldering, broody and dark. Syrah is now the wine to drink and there are plenty of delicious and affordable styles, one sure to suit your palate. The most renowned of the syrah grapes come from the southern rhone valley in France, but the crowd pleasers come from a relatively new player in the international game of wine, Australia. Down under, the grape is called Shiraz, and whether alone or with the venerable Cabernet Sauvignon by its side, the Australian version is hard to beat!

quick facts :

Syrah and shiraz may go by different names but it is the same grape. The name "syrah" comes from the city of Syracusa in Sicily, where, during Roman times, it was believed that the grape originated. Now, we know that the grape actually came from near the city of Shiraz in Persia. The French decided to stick with tradtion and keep syrah, the Australians use the more accurate shiraz.

awesome aussies

Interestingly enough, Australia has no native vines, but has been making wine for over 175 years. Until recently however, Australian wines had a taste only an aussie could love. But that has all changed. From 1832 when James Busby brought the first cuttings of Shiraz back from the Rhone Valley until now Australia has used its technological prowess to create a world class wine. Oz Clarke has called their refrigerated fermentation technique the twentieth century's single most important winemaking advance. Australia has overtaken California as the world's most scientifically advanced winemakers and is taking a leading role in vinification. The refrigerated fermentation technique allows the winemaker to very accurately control the rate at which the grape's sugars are converted into alcohol. The resulting wine retains more of the character of the grape. It is fresh and fruity without sacrificing any depth or spiciness. At least as far as Shiraz, Australia might be considered a wine prodigy. But there is a beautiful valley in the southeastern part of France that has set the standard for Syrah based wines for centuries.

France has its A.O.C. and Italy has its D.O.C.G. These standards govern the quality of wine produced in those countries. Australia has the L.I.P. or the Label Integrity Program. It regulates the vintage, variety and geographic location claims made on the label.

rhone wasn't built in a day

Located in southeastern France the Rhone Valley is divided into two distinct districts, north and south. In the north the predominant grape in syrah and goes by the names Côte Rôtie (or roasted coast) Crozes-Hermitage and the king of Syrah wines, Hermitage. The southern Rhones features Syrah but mostly in blends with Grenache and in the case of the glorious Chateauneuf-de-Pape, 12 other varieties as well. Unlike Australia, where mother nature's consistency can be counted on for a good vintage year after year, France is not so blessed. The year is important and you should consult a wine expert before laying down the big bucks for any of these blockbuster wines. But when you have a bundle to blow you would do well to splurge on a great Hermitage or Chateauneuf-de-Pape (a real favorite of A Big Slice). But as a rule of thumb, you should know that the Australian version tends to be fruitier and more approachable, whereas the French Syrah is more austere and subtle. As for America, syrah was almost unknown in California until the 1980's when a group of growers who called themselves the Rhone Rangers wanted to try their hand at this grape. So far the results have been mixed but progress has and will continue to be made.

Some of the oldest vines in France are in the Rhone Valley. The vineyards of Hermitage in the northern part of the valley have been around for 2000 years!