Syrah/Shiraz

A Staple for any Occasion

Liam Snow, 2020

By Hahn Family Wines - Flickr: HahnHarvest10.JPG, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20142541

Photo by Hahn Family Wines - Flickr: HahnHarvest10.JPG, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20142541

Syrah/Shiraz is a staple in any wine collectors stock, and any wine drinker's pallet. It's storied past, with myths once mused upon to explain its origin, and tales of adventure to the new world, lends to great variation within the variety. Through this, a number of different takes and perspectives on Syrah/Shiraz have been realized and perused. Furthermore, a number of appellations have become famous throughout the wine world in this pursuit for their unique realization of their Syrah's. This even extends to local BC wineries in the Okanagan, which have come into their own spotlight for their Syrah/Shiraz.

For the most part, Syrah/Shiraz grapes best know as red wines, though white ones have gained acclaim as well in notable appellations like Hermitage. Red Syrah/Shiraz's are notably either deep or bright in color as result of a high count of Anthocyanins, the molecule “responsible for the color of black and red grapes,” and “of red wines”(Robinson, 2006). Generally, it can be said that “the more acidic the grape juice or wine... the brighter the red color”(Robinson, 2006), which demonstrates and interesting relation between the chemical components of wine, and the aesthetic.

The Green Varietal for Syrah, (n.d.) Retrieved from:  https://pixabay.com/photos/green-syrah-grapes-vine-2694529/ 

Where Does It Come From?

There are many theories as to the origins of the grape, “that it came from Egypt, from Greece, or from Cyprus”(Meredith, 2004), it has even be pondered as to whether or not it originated in Iran. Much of these myths can be linked to the name of the varietal. Iran is most often brought up as a result of one of its name: 'Shiraz,' that it shares with the capital of Iran's Fars Provence, which is most often attributed to Australian varietals. Similarly, 'Syrah,' the name most often attributed to non-Australian varietals, is rumored to be in reference to the ancient Greek city of “Syracuse,”in Sicily which was "powerful... during the ancient Greek rule in 400 BC”(Wine Folley, 2016). Yet these theories linking naming conventions to origination have been proven wrong in recent years.

Genetic Ancestry

The previously stated theories regarding the origin of Syrah/Shiraz were quelled through DNA research in the early 21st century. This research traced the origins of Syrah through its genetic-parents: "two vines from southeast France, Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche"(Meredith, 2004). It was thereafter concluded that from the location of these progenitor vines,“we know now that Syrah came from France” (Meredith, 2004).

The Birthplace of Syrah/Shiraz

Syrah/Shiraz was first recorded in ancient literature by the Romans, whose texts on wine making in antiquity make note of an emerging "new variety in the area of Vienne"(Meredith, 2004), where we know as southern France along the Rhone river. From this source, viticulturists presume that “The variety emerged, in the 1st century A.D”(Meredith, 2004), and that it emerged at “approximately the location of Hermitage, of Côte-Rôtie” (Meredith, 2004).

Where is it Now?

An imperative climatic control on Syrah/Shiraz is that: “To fully ripen, Syrah demands a warm climate” (Robinson, 2006).

Under this restriction, Syrah/Shiraz can be found in Australia, Southern France, Chile, Washington state, and South Africa. Notably, it “has been particularly successful in California, both in Napa and Sonoma” (Robinson, 2006). In Contrast to its success in California, “much of New Zealand is too cool for Syrah,” (Robinson, 2006). only able to boast plantings of some “200 ha in the North Island, chiefly Hawkes bay" (Robinson, 2006).

In spite of the climatic requirements for Syrah/Shiraz growth, estimates in 2006 had proposed that Shiraz was by then the “world's fifth most planted wine grape with a total of 137000 ha/338000 acres” (Robinson, 2006).

Australia

Arguably the vine region most important to the development (culturally and otherwise) of Syrah/Shiraz is Australia. Legend has it that “Shiraz was probably taken to Australia, possibly from Montpellier, in 1832 by James Busby”(Robinson, 2006). This was an action that would irrevocably change the future of Syrah/Shiraz forever, as thereafter Syrah/Shiraz would become such a vital part of Australian wine culture that 'Shiraz,' the Australian name for the Syrah/Shiraz varietal, would become equally valid to the European name.

Syrah/Shiraz in Australia gained so much variety because, as the Syrah/Shiraz varietal grew in Australia, it stagnated in France. This went on over the years until a got to a point in which “… the very limited vineyards of the Northern Rhone [were] dwarfed in area by total Syrah in the vines [of] Australia" (Robinson, 2006).

Notable Australian Appellation (which equal up to 105000 acres):

    • Barossa
    • McLaren Vale
    • Limestone Coast

(Wine Folly, 2016)

Barossa, a particularly acclaimed appellation, is “the oldest and most important” viticultural valley in Australia and “tends to deliver some of the most powerful, flavorful wines not just in Australia, but world-wide.” (Wine Folly, 2016)

A rough outline of Barossa Appellation

A broad area of the Rhone river valley in France (right) and outline of the Languedoc-Roussillon region (left)

France

While for many years southern France's Syrah/Shiraz production had been dwarfed by Australia, in the late 1970’s French Syrah became a far more popular vareital in not just the Rhone Valley, but in southern France generally. This is best observed in “Languedoc-Roussillon where Syrah has been most enthusiastically adopted as an officially approved ‘improving variety’ that has added structure to wines both appellation controlee and vin de pays” (Robinson, 2006). (Controlee and Vine de Pays simply being awards marking quality wine.)

Notable French Regions (with 169000 acres) :

  • Hermitage
  • Côte-Rôtie
  • St. Joseph
  • Côtes du Rhône: Cornas

(Wine Folly, 2016)

The Bearing of Location on Terroir

From the overview of these two most prominent and established regions of Syrah, Barossa in southern Australia and southern France, one begins to notice that difference in location and culture is a powerful control on terroir of Syrah/Shiraz.

In specific regards to the terrior of Old world 'Syrahs,' "Italy and France tend to have more acidity and earthy-herbaceous aromas"(Wine Folly, 2019), while 'New World' Syrah/Shiraz wines "usually have more fruit-driven characteristics with lots of spice"(Wine Folly, 2019). Local British Colombia Syrah/Shiraz, have been characterized as having "intense in fruit, gamey, floral and retains lots of black pepper notes"(Wines of British Columbia, n.d.).

Even within specific regions does location bear on the Terrior of Syrah. This is frequently achieved through differences in cultural preferences and practices of viticulture. For example, “In the northern Rhone it is rarely blended," whereas, "in the south it is typically blended with Grenache, mourvedre and perhaps with Carignan and/or Cinsaut”(Robinson, 2006), which bears intesley on the character of the different French varieties.

Deep Root's Winery, a local winery well known for their Syrah

Local Syrah/Shiraz

BC Wine has self reported "530 acres planted (214 hectares)"(Wines of British Columbia, n.d.), while promoting that "BC has proven it is well suited to making intensely flavored, cool climate Syrah. As a result, BC Syrah is consistently named the top red wine in Canada in wine competitions"(Wines of British Columbia, n.d.). Backing up this statement, “located in Naramata... Deep Roots Winery's 2017 Syrah was named wine of the year at the 2019 B.C. Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards in Kelowna” (Potenteau, 2019), which, while not the top accolade in the viticultural world, shows a presence of Syrah in local Okanagan wine.

All in all, Syrah is a staple varietal for anyone remotely interested in wine. Its storied past lends greatly to it flavorful and bright terrior, which, in its variation, conveys a unique perspective on Syrah. Through its locations, great and global, small and local, the wine and the appellations it represented have all gained acclaim through their own expression of Syrah/Shiraz. it is this variation that gives the wine a versatility, so that Syrah/Shiraz has become a staple wine for all occasions.

“No other single red variety is capable of such a range of so many different expressions”(Jefford, 2004).

References:

(n.d.) Retrieved from:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_Syrah.jpg 

The Green Varietal for Syrah, (n.d.) Retrieved from:  https://pixabay.com/photos/green-syrah-grapes-vine-2694529/