Syrah / Shiraz

One Grape, Two Personalities

Syrah and Shiraz are genetically identical grapes that produce distinctly different wine styles. The name typically signals the approach: "Syrah" indicates a more restrained Old World style, while "Shiraz" suggests a bolder, fruit-forward New World expression.

Syrah: The Old World Classic
Born in France's Northern Rhône Valley, Syrah creates elegant, age-worthy wines in regions like Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Cornas. These medium to full-bodied wines offer dark berries, black pepper, savory meaty notes, and floral undertones, often with a distinctive smoky character. They show a bit of restraint, emphasize structure and complexity over sheer power, developing remarkable depth with age.

Shiraz: The Bold New World Style
When the grape arrived in Australia in the 1830s, it found a new identity as Shiraz. Australian Shiraz, particularly from Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, delivers fuller-bodied wines with higher alcohol, softer tannins, and pronounced jammy fruit. Expect rich flavors of blackberry, chocolate, licorice, and sweet spice, often with a velvety texture. This accessible style helped propel Australian wine onto the global stage.

The Style Spectrum
Today, the name choice signals winemaking intent more than geography. A producer in Washington State or Chile might label their wine Syrah to indicate a more restrained, peppery style, while an Australian winemaker uses Shiraz for a riper expression. Climate plays a crucial role: cooler regions naturally produce wines with higher acidity and more savory characteristics, while warmer areas yield richer, fruit-dominant wines.

To Sum It All Up...
Whether labeled Syrah or Shiraz, this versatile grape offers something for every palate. From the elegant, peppery wines of the Northern Rhône to the bold expressions of Australia, it showcases how profoundly climate, winemaking choices, and regional traditions can transform a single variety into remarkably different experiences.