Syrah, is a full-bodied red grape variety from the Rhône, which has cultivated an arguably even more famous second identity as Shiraz, Australia’s flagship red.
Syrah is widely associated with flavours of black pepper, violets, blackberries, black olive and, especially with age, a savoury, gamey character. The variety often combines intense fruit with high tannins. In warmer climates such as Australia’s Barossa Valley it can display richer flavours of dark chocolate and tar.
Syrah’s genetic roots lie in south-eastern France but it has long had a primary home in the Northern Rhône, where it may well have been cultivated since Roman times.
Syrah is the world’s sixth most planted grape variety and a feature of many warm climate regions. The grape is most prolific in its native France and at its finest in the Northern Rhône. Syrah is also widely planted in the Southern Rhône and is increasingly popular in Languedoc blends. Syrah, or Shiraz, is believed to have reached Australia in the 1830s and today accounts for about a quarter of the country’s wine production. Much of the volume comes from the Riverland and Riverina regions, while some of the highest value Shiraz comes from Barossa and, increasingly, cooler regions such as Yarra Valley and Adelaide Hills. Elsewhere Syrah has particularly significant plantings in California, Washington State, Castilla-La Mancha, South Africa, Argentina and Chile. It has also found a small, but high quality niche in New Zealand’s Gimblett Gravels.
Syrah in the Northern Rhône is often lightened with a dash of the perfumed white grape Viognier. Further south, Syrah is most likely to appear in a blend, usually featuring Grenache, Mourvèdre and/or Carignan. In Australia, the Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon blend is a national specialism.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Antournerein, Anzher Muskatnyi, Antournerein Noir, Balsamina, Blauer Syrah, Bragiola, Di Santi, Candive, Candive Noir, Entournerin, Blaue Schiraz, Costigliola, Damas Noir du Puy De Dome, Damaszener Blau, Fresa Grossa, Entourneirein, Entournerein, Costiola, Hignin Noir, Neretta di Saluzzo, Neretta Di Costigliole, Neretto Di Dogliani, Neretta Piccola, Neretta Piccola Di Dogliani, Neretto Del Beinale, Neretto Di Saluzzo, Marsanne Noir, Marsanne Noire, Neiret Di Saluzzo, Plant de Biaune, Petite Sirrah, Petite Syras, Plant de la Bianne, Plant de la Biaune, Marzane Noir, Plan de la Biaune, Neiretta Cunese, Nereta Piccola Di Monre Galese, Neretta Cuneese, Neiretta Del Cuneese-Fassanese, Neiretta Del Monregalese, Neiretta Del Rosso, Neiretta Dell'Albese, Neiretta di Saluzzo, Neiretto del Cuneese, Neiretto Di Carru, Neiretto di Bene, Neiretto Di Costigliole, Neiretto Di Saluzzo, Neiretto Di Farigliano, Neretta Del Cuneese-Fassanese, Neretta del Monregalese, Petit Syrah, Serene, Schiraz, Schiras, Serenne, Zizak, Seraene, Serine Noir, Sereine, Serinne, Syra, Sirah, Sirac, Sirah Marsanne Noir, Syrac, Siriaca, Syrac de L'Ermitage, Shyrac, Sirica, Sevene, Shiras, Shiraz, Syrah Crni
