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Shiraz -vs-Syrah, are they really the same grape?
By Brenda Francis
Syrah has been around for thousands of years. Romans introduced grape vines throughout Europe, but when they arrived in the Rhone Valley of France, they found syrah being cultivated and made into wine. Some say syrah is indigenous to the region of Gaul (France), but many believe that its roots stretch all the way to Persia and the city of Shiraz.
The French winemaking culture has been followed faithfully for hundreds of years, often by instituting laws that define what is acceptable. The Australians love to follow the recognized French recipes, but they often put an Aussie spin on many of these formulas. They pair two Bordeaux varieties, merlot and cabernet sauvignon with the Rhone Valley grape syrah, something the French would never think of doing, especially since it is against the law. The Aussie coined a new name for syrah and made it their very own.
Since the time Australians started calling syrah-Shiraz, the rest of the new world has been embracing their unique style for this spicy grape. Blessed with ample sun, often too much sun, Australia produces a jammy, soft, big bodied, high alcohol Shiraz. The fruit flavors are often extreme and not the least bit shy; many are aged in new American oak barrels. This new world style is the complete opposite of syrah's traditional profile.
Syrah of the Northern Rhone Valley is sultry, mysterious, and filled with flavors from the earth and sky, or what the French call terroir (tair-wha). Of course it boasts flavors of fruit, but those berry notes are often subtle and evolve on the mid-palate or finish. Southern Rhone Valley syrahs are usually blended with other permitted red varieties and can be a touch more spicy and fruit forward then their northern cousins.
A good rule to follow is if it is called Shiraz, it follows the Australian new world recipe, featuring big jammy berry flavors and high alcohol. If a producer refers to the grape as syrah, expect an old world style with subtle flavors, often with deep concentration on the mid-palate.
The grape is the same, but its personality can be either syrah or Shiraz, depending on what the grower and winemaker desires. Of course there are shades between each name, so defining this purpled hued wine can be a tasty venture.
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