Custom Search
Did you know this about Shiraz and Syrah wine?
You say Shiraz, I say Syrah? Same grape or not? OK, you don't need wine courses to know the difference.
If you thought yes you are right What's their prize Bob? You mean besides a group of steak knives? OK, no ginzus but what about the remainder of the tale.
In the early 1800's when Napoleon was marching through Europe, one of the campaigns he fought was in Egypt.
Everyone knows to the victor go the spoils, so one of his spoils was a local wine called Shiraz.
He liked the wine so much that he took vines back to France to be planted but thought the name was too Arabic, so he changed the name to the more correct French sounding "Syrah"
Here is where the syrah vs shiraz story takes a twist. Remember one of the things your mother told you as a child: What comes round, goes around. Well, she was right.
The ending to this small ditty is that that a few decades ago, our mates the Australians were studying wine methods in France and thought the syrah grapes had potential in their climate, so they took some vines back home
The vines flourished. But an amusing thing happened.
They thought the name "Syrah" sounded too French so they adapted the name back to the Arabic name Shiraz and the rest as they say is history.
So in present times, though the grape is usually called syrah in Europe and Shiraz everywhere else, it's really the same grape.
The winemaker selects to pronounce it syrah or shiraz based on the how they opt to produce the wine.
The Syrah you get from Europe will usually be a little drier.
The Shiraz from California or Australia is bold, spicy, dramatic, great wine for seasoned red meat. The spice is what truly stands out here. To most people the specific flavour is pepper.
So here's the wine info on Shiraz
Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape
Shiraz has a distinct pepper flavor
Great wine for foods like steak au poive or in English "pepper steak
This is a very distinct wine that people either love or hate. This wine is the spicy hot wings of the wine world! There's such an obsessed following for this wine that once you try it you will never go back to other wines!
So enjoy the great debate! syrah vs shiraz!
If you thought yes you are right What's their prize Bob? You mean besides a group of steak knives? OK, no ginzus but what about the remainder of the tale.
In the early 1800's when Napoleon was marching through Europe, one of the campaigns he fought was in Egypt.
Everyone knows to the victor go the spoils, so one of his spoils was a local wine called Shiraz.
He liked the wine so much that he took vines back to France to be planted but thought the name was too Arabic, so he changed the name to the more correct French sounding "Syrah"
Here is where the syrah vs shiraz story takes a twist. Remember one of the things your mother told you as a child: What comes round, goes around. Well, she was right.
The ending to this small ditty is that that a few decades ago, our mates the Australians were studying wine methods in France and thought the syrah grapes had potential in their climate, so they took some vines back home
The vines flourished. But an amusing thing happened.
They thought the name "Syrah" sounded too French so they adapted the name back to the Arabic name Shiraz and the rest as they say is history.
So in present times, though the grape is usually called syrah in Europe and Shiraz everywhere else, it's really the same grape.
The winemaker selects to pronounce it syrah or shiraz based on the how they opt to produce the wine.
The Syrah you get from Europe will usually be a little drier.
The Shiraz from California or Australia is bold, spicy, dramatic, great wine for seasoned red meat. The spice is what truly stands out here. To most people the specific flavour is pepper.
So here's the wine info on Shiraz
Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape
Shiraz has a distinct pepper flavor
Great wine for foods like steak au poive or in English "pepper steak
This is a very distinct wine that people either love or hate. This wine is the spicy hot wings of the wine world! There's such an obsessed following for this wine that once you try it you will never go back to other wines!
So enjoy the great debate! syrah vs shiraz!
About the Author:
Mark Adams is a professional winemaker, former winery owner, author and frequent speaker on wine. He currently teaches wine classes helping people learn about wine throughout the United States.