Syrah / Shiraz

Ranging from peppery elegance in the syrah of the Northern Rhone Valley of France to the soft, big fruit driven shiraz of Australia, whichever name you call it, syrah is capable of making good wine. Adaptable to nearly any wine growing region, syrah has seen a sort of renaissance of popularity as wine drinkers look for something new.

Australian shiraz is the same grape but for a time it was believed that the grape originated from the Shiraz region of ancient Persia, now part of Iran. Genetic testing has concluded that syrah is native to the Rhone Valley of Southern France and was exported to other regions from there.

Syrah is typically a 'big' wine full of fruit flavors and structure. The grape's dark skin leads to wines with good color extraction when the grapes are allowed to ripen fully. There are as many styles as there are producers making good syrah.

We have found great examples of syrah from California's Sierra Foothills, Paso Robles, Sonoma County, Lodi-Wood bridge and many others. We encourage you to try several different producers of syrah and shiraz to find the style you like the best.

Petite syrah, or Durif is a completely different grape varietal that is often mistaken for syrah. Petite syrah typically makes an enjoyable but fairly one dimensional wine with incredibly deep color and massive tannin structure. It is often used to add color and structure to lighter varietals and recently more and more wineries are bottling it as a single varietal.

Our Favorites:

Lawer Family Vineyard Three Coins Syrah
Expressive and complex wine with notes of dark cherry, blackberry and a background of cocoa and spice.
($28)

2007 Two Hands "Angels Share" Shiraz McLaren Vale South Australia
If you want a big and bold shiraz, this is it. Raspberry, cherry, red plum and spice with a long finish.
($28)

2007 Qupe Central Coast Syrah
This is our everyday syrah. Dark berry with hints of black pepper in a clean and easy drinking style..
($14)

2006 Kosta Browne Amber Ridge Syrah
Expensive for syrah but explosively perfumed with aromas of red and black cherry, baking spice and mineral.
($90)

2006 Côte Rôtie Domaine Duclaux "Maison Rouge"
Perfumed wine offering raspberries and black cherries, spice and an earthy undertone..
($60)

More Grape Varieties