Shiraz and Syrah: The wonderfully drinkable red wine
Shiraz and Syrah: The wonderfully drinkable red wine
You say Syrah, I say Shiraz. So which is it?Syrah( pronounced SEE-rah) and Shiraz (pronounced shi-RAHZ) are virtually the same grape viticulturally speaking, but the wines that they produce taste very diferent according to which region of the world they are grown in. This complex red grape offers a multitude of wines in different styles that can suit almost every wine lover’s palate. The Syrah/Shiraz grapes need warmth to ripen fully, and in warmer climates they make a sweeter and more restrained style of wine. This versatile grape grows in two different climates; cooler climate Syrah grapes come from France and New Zealand, while the warmer climate Syrah’s come from Argentina, Australia, Chile, the South of France and Spain. The color tends to be medium to deep purple with a high/firm tannin level. It can best be described as a wine with a medium to deep purple color with an expresive aroma. They both produce serious reds with the capability to age well. It is known as the “improving grape” because it provides the backbone for many blended wines from the Souther Rhone and other parts of Southern France and Australia. Northern Rhone region of France produces reds that are made almost exclusively from Syrah and have a taste of spice and pepper. The Languedoc-Roussillon region of France also produces some of the finest Syrah.
This variety of wine is best enjoyed with food or for after dinner relaxing. These wines tend to have a bold flavor so it is best to serve them later in the evening; starting with them makes it hard to backtrack to lighter wines later. Serving Syrah is best done in large slightly curved glass stemware, not old bowl-style red wine glasses. It is best served between a 12°C and 18°C temperature. The flavour and aroma of the wine make it ideal to be paired with flavoured meats like lamb, red meat, turkey, game dishes, duch goose sausage and hard cheeses.
