Syrah (in the New world – Shiraz Shiraz, Syrah) red wine grape, is the main and sometimes the only variety included in the famous French wines of the Rhone Valley côte rôtie (Côte Rôtie) and Hermitage (Hermitage), as well as the Foundation that gives structure to most blends of the region, including Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Châteauneuf du Pape).

The story sorta goes back to antiquity. But concerning its origin there are different versions. One of them is that he is a native of Persia, from the vicinity of the eponymous city of Shiraz. Second – that Syrah is indigenous (local) of the French variety.

Launched in 1998, collaborative research of the University of California at Davis and the French National Agronomy Archives in Montpellier proved Syrah is indeed a local French variety. DNA profiling proved Syrah is the result of genetic crossing of little-known varieties: white Mondes Blanc (Mondeuse blanc) and black dureza (Dureza).

More than half of all the world’s plantings of Syrah have on France. However, the variety has been very successful in Australia, where it is called “Shiraz” or “Hermitage” as well as in South Africa, California and, recently, in Washington state.

Australian Shiraz

In California Shiraz was first introduced in 1978. After a couple of decades, during which several producers have been making wine from it with the label “Hermitage”, for the 1900-th year, almost all landing died from the invasion of phylloxera. Subsequent mention of Shiraz in California was not until the mid-20th century. Since the late 1950s, more and more winemakers began to add it to your range, and by 2010, more than 7500 hectares of wine-growing lands were occupied by plantings of Shiraz.

Characteristics of the varieties Shiraz (Syrah)

The Syrah vines are relatively productive, but not very strong. Like Merlot, it’s vulnerable to the phenomenon of “colour” (violation of metabolism in plants in response to weather conditions, in which part of the flower does not develop normally in the ovary and fruit), and although Syrah constitutes the ovary rather late, the harvest he gives in the middle of the season. For full ripening Syrah requires a lot of heat, but it is a little peregret, it may lose the characteristics of the variety. The berries are thick-skinned and dark, almost black.

Wine varieties Shiraz (Syrah)

Obtained from Syrah intense wine, dark purple color, dense texture, rich, often hard.

Scents: closer to spice than fruit, with prominent notes of chocolate and black pepper.

Renowned wine expert Jancis Robinson in the pivot table wine flavors on their website even credited Shiraz aromas of burnt rubber. Well, try it and judge for yourself)

Despite the strong dependence on temperature in the vineyard, the Syrah style – even in a cool climate – usually described as luxurious and even sensual (one well-known manufacturer even awarded him the epithet of “obscene”).

While many manufacturers release New world Shiraz in depanom (monosortovom) version, it is a Supplement that brings the richness, color and tannins in the blend style of “côte du rhône”, i.e. combined with Grenache and Mourvedre , but also, as available, with kunuaz (Counoise) and Cinsault (Cinsault)

According to the materials of the portal “Professional Friends of Wine”