Today, I’d like to open the door to the world of red wine. Particularly, a full-bodied red grape known by two names, Syrah and Shiraz. Syrah happens to be my favorite red grape. It is often overlooked by the average wine consumer for more well-known full-bodied reds such as the ever-popular Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is a grape with many expressions, its profile can vary widely, depending on where in the world its grown. In France, where 35% of Syrah grown is found, can have many expressions. Down in the southern Rhone Valley, there is an area called Vacqueyras where you can fine notes of blackberry pie, leather, mint, pepper, and even floral expressions like violets. If we travel to the northern Rhone, to a place called Côte Rôtie, or “roasted slope,” we will find some baseline similarities of Vacqueyras, but the nuanced differences can be astounding.
When drinking a Syrah from Côte Rôtie, you will find a powerful wine with dark fruit notes of blackberry and black currant. The wine gives notes of chocolate on the palate, savory black olive, bacon fat, pepper, and a charcoal smokiness on the finish. Bold with fine grained tannins, a Côte Rôtie can seem like a distant relative to its southern counterpart Vacqueyras. If we zoom out a bit, these appellations are a part of a larger region of wine known as Côtes du Rhone, or “Hillsides of the Rhone “(River). In general, these are the styles of Syrah I keep finding myself gravitating towards.
Overall, Côtes du Rhône Syrah profile offers dark fruits of blackberry and plum, even blueberry, offering savory expressions as well. There is a peppery note that many of these wines have from a particular molecule called Rotundone. This molecule is a type of terpene that many humans are sensitive to the presence of. Terpenes are some of the primary constituents of the essential oils of many types of plants and flowers. Rotundone can be detected by humans in extremely small quantities, as little as 16 nanograms of this compound in a liter of wine is enough for you to pick up its peppery profile!
Another region known for growing this grape is the Barossa Valley in Australia. This grape is known down-under as Shiraz. Offering more juicy fruit flavors from the hotter climate, it still shares its peppery note on the other side of the hemisphere. Australia accounts for 20% of the world’s Shiraz (Syrah). Here the grape will show expressions bursting with fresh berries, ripe plum, cherry, chocolate, spice, and the peppery goodness from the rotundone. Silky, fresh, and vibrant on the palate, this is the expression of the grape you’re looking for if you prefer fresh and fruit forward, or if you’re not seeking out an earthy, savory-leaning style of wine the many French Syrah’s have.
Here at Urban Pine Winery and Eatery, we have a wonderful Australian Shiraz we named Saint, that offers vibrant fruits, leather, as well as some sweet spice notes, and of course, pepper! If you’re familiar with our wine, then good on ya! However, if you’re not sure how much you’ve ventured out from the classic red grapes that dominate many restaurants and supermarkets, I’d give this grape varietal a try. You will be pleasantly surprised at how delicious this grape can be. For me, tasting a wine goes hand in hand with discovery, contemplation, and great times. For pairings, you can’t go wrong with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, beef stew, burgers, and even pizza! For great cheese pairings, look for hard cheeses such as Parmesan or Asiago. Syrah/Shiraz also pairs wonderfully with bleu cheeses like Maytag or Stilton. There is always more to learn about wine, as well as learning about yourself through wine, what you love, what you can do without, and what profiles you can keep going back to, never to tire in your company.
Cheers!
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