Australia's Most Popular Grape
Shri Raj Goswami
Assistant Director of Food and Beverage | Expertise in Pre-Opening Luxury Hotels
SYRAH/SHIRAZ
Black pepper, dark chocolate, notable tannin
In its northern Rhone valley home, Syrah most famously makes great dark long lived hermitage and aromatic Cote-Rotie(where it was traditionally perfumed with a little Viognier). It is now planted all over Southern france, where it is commonly used in blends.
Syrah taste quite differently in Australia, where it is called Shiraz, It is the country's most planted grape. In places as warm as Barossa, it makes dense, rich, potent wines, though it can still have a hint of black peppers in the cooler riches of Victoria.
Today growers all over the world are experimenting with this easy to love grape. Its wines, however ripe, always have a savoury kick at the end. It is increasingly important and revered in Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and Washington State, and is widely planted in Argentina, too.