Syrah / Shiraz

The noble one

First of all, Syrah and Shiraz are one and the same grape. Known as Syrah in Europe, it goes by the name Shiraz in the New World. But no matter on which side of the globe: the cultivation of Syrah is demanding and requires a warm and arid region with lime-free soils to succeed. Today, Syrah is one of the most widely grown grape varieties worldwide. The single-variety wines are dense and deep red and usually have a high tannin and alcohol content. Syrah is also often used as a quality-enhancing blending variety.

Where it grows:

• in the South of France

• in Australia and South Africa over large areas

• in California

• in Canada

What it tastes like:

• from cool growing regions: spicy with peppery aromas

• from warmer growing regions: liquorice and hints of blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate

What it goes with:

• meat, meat and more meat: game, beef, pork and lamb

• Mediterranean dishes

• blue cheese