Syrah, a red wine grape variety.
It has a deep color and a strong, spicy flavor.
This may not be a familiar variety to those who don't drink wine, but it's a popular variety whose cultivated area has increased fivefold in the last 20 years.
This is the first I've heard of this variety, but it seems to be gaining popularity.
I often buy wine at the supermarket, and I've seen the label "Syrah" before.
It is now grown in many parts of the world and is one of the most successful varieties in New Zealand. It is mainly grown in the Hawke's Bay region and Waiheke Island. If you are a fan of red wine, you should definitely check out New Zealand Syrah.
Syrah has a good balance of the elements that make up wine, such as fruit aroma, acidity, tannins , and spiciness, so it is perfect for when you want to enjoy red wine. It has a rich flavor and a sufficient alcohol content. It is a red wine that is easy to drink.
Another feature is that the grapes themselves have distinct personalities, making it a relatively easy variety to understand.
In addition, because it has a strong structure and is a long-term aging variety, it is also suitable for producing high-quality wines.
Syrah is a red wine with all the charms of red wine. We will introduce its characteristics and recommended dishes. Please use this as a reference when choosing wine.
It has a unique spicy flavor and can be used as a main dish or a side dish.
The Syrah grape variety produces deep, dark red wines.
It can be grown as a single variety, but is often blended with other varieties.
A wine made from a single variety of Syrah has a powerful and spicy impression, while a blend with multiple varieties makes it soft and easy to drink.
In addition, blending Syrah gives the wine a clear structure and allows it to be aged for a long time. It plays a role in stabilizing the wine and extending its life.
For these reasons, it is said to be a variety that is not inferior to Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir .
"Syrah" in France, "Shiraz" in Australia
Syrah has a somewhat unique history.
Syrah originates from the Rhone region of southern France .
The Rhone region is one of the three great French wine regions, along with Bordeaux and Burgundy.
In France, it is called Syrah and produces high-quality wines, particularly in the northern Rhône region.
In the 1800s, Syrah was introduced to Australia.
And it was an instant success.
It was renamed "Shiraz" and evolved in its own unique way.
Shiraz is an easy-to-grow variety and has spread to countries around the world, making it a very popular variety today.
Powerful, spicy and concentrated fruit flavours
Next, let's look at its appearance, scent, and other characteristics.
A rich wine made from dark fruits
Syrah grapes are a deep black colour with a bluish tint, and because they are small and have thick skins, they produce very dark red wines.
↓This is a Syrah from Vilamari, one of New Zealand's most famous wineries.
The red is a dark, intense color.
An essential word for Syrah = spicy!
Syrah is characterized by its powerful, spicy flavor and strong tannins . It also has a rich, concentrated fruit flavor.
"Spicy," which refers to spices such as black pepper and nutmeg, is the most important word to describe Syrah.
When drinking Syrah, be sure to check for spiciness.
Unique scent
In addition to spicy pepper aromas, you can also taste black cherry, dark cherry, prune, jam, violet, and white flowers.
The fruit is characterized by its concentrated flavor, which can be imagined from the dark, thick-skinned fruit of Syrah.
It also has a wild scent that can be described as that of tanned leather.
Is it tanned leather? LOL What does it smell like?
When describing the aroma of red wine, the word "leather" often comes up, like the scent of leather belts and wallets.
Wow! There are so many ways to describe the aroma of wine, it's really interesting!
Strong acidity
Syrah is a variety that also has a high level of acidity.
One aspect of grape cultivation is that it is difficult to mature grapes while still retaining their acidity, so expensive grapes tend to have high acidity and cheap grapes tend to have low acidity.
What climate does Syrah prefer?
This variety prefers a relatively warm and dry climate.
The wine made from grapes exposed to strong sunlight has a concentrated deep red color, a high alcohol content, and a powerful, full-bodied flavor.
Character born from aging
One of the great things about Syrah is that it has a long lifespan. In the Rhone region, where it originates, it is said that it should be aged for at least 10 years. This is because when young, Syrah has a strong spicy, astringent, and bitter taste.
And once the Syrah has aged and is ready to drink, interesting changes begin to appear.
By aging, the distinct characteristics of each producing region come out.
Syrah is a fascinating variety with great potential, as it reflects the individuality of the land and produces a wide range of wines with a variety of flavors.
Goes great with game and charcoal-grilled meat dishes.
Syrah is also known as a "wild wine" because of its spicy and powerful tannins.
Syrah pairs perfectly with game and charcoal-grilled dishes.
Gibier is a French word that refers to the meat of wild animals such as deer and wild boar obtained by hunting.
When paired with game dishes or charcoal-grilled meat, the wild wine Syrah is transformed into something incredibly elegant.
Just thinking about it makes me want to grab a bottle of Syrah and go to a BBQ. Lol
Try pairing some syrah with some roasted meat and some black pepper.
Syrah, originating from France, is a blend.
In its native region of France, the Rhone region, famous areas producing Syrah include Cote Rotie, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Cornas.
Southern France has a culture of blending wines, and Syrah is often blended with a variety of other varieties.
The following varieties are representative:
- Grenache (a sibling variety of Syrah)
- Mourvedre
- Carignan
- Viognier
"Viognier" is actually a variety for white wine. This traditional method of mixing white grape varieties suppresses the spicy aroma unique to Syrah and strengthens the aroma of white flowers, resulting in a more elegant wine.
It may be quite surprising that it also pairs well with Viognier, a white wine grape variety.
In recent years, this production method has been adopted in countries such as Australia, and many coffees with a soft, fruity taste are now being produced.
What are the characteristics of Syrah's taste and aroma?
A typical French Syrah is characterized by a spicy, black peppery taste that can be felt just by putting your nose close to the glass.
It is also elegant and delicate, and easy to drink.
Crossing over to Australia, it becomes more powerful and solid.
Let's take a look at the characteristics of Australia, which is said to be the second largest producer of cocoa.
The Shiraz that was introduced to Australia has different characteristics to its native France.
Syrah was introduced to Australia in the 1800s, and over the course of about 200 years it has evolved in its own way to suit the Australian soil and climate.
Syrah, which matches Australia's warm climate and the country's food culture, has become extremely popular and is currently the most widely planted red wine variety in Australia.
What are the characteristics of Shiraz's taste and aroma?
Australian Shiraz is darker and a little heavier than French Shiraz. It has a thicker, more creamy feel to it.
In addition, it has a rich fruitiness and a powerful, concentrated flavor.
The tannins are smooth, meaning they're not too bitter.
It's not too spicy and tends to have a slightly stronger fruit flavor, so it's easy to see why it's said to be similar to Cabernet Sauvignon.
Paving new paths with unique blends
The French blending culture is based on blending varieties from the same region.
However, Australia has produced a unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a Bordeaux variety.
This combination of Bordeaux and Rhone is taboo in France.
Australian Shiraz has achieved this and created a new culture, becoming popular and loved all over the world.
In New Zealand, the Hawke's Bay region is the focus, and Cool Climate Syrah is also attracting attention.
Now, let's take a look at Syrah in New Zealand.
In New Zealand, it is mainly grown in the Hawke's Bay region, which accounts for approximately 70% of the total cultivated area.
Although the production volume is very small, only 1% of all grape varieties grown in New Zealand, its quality is increasingly attracting attention on the international stage (2019).
Cool climate wine
In New Zealand, there are attempts to create a Syrah that is not heavy, as it tends to be heavy. This is known as "Cool Climate Syrah" , and is attracting attention as a Syrah that takes advantage of the cool climate.
Although it is a cool country, there is ample sunlight, which creates a large temperature difference between day and night. This allows for long-term aging and produces sophisticated, elegant wines with complex flavors.
Characteristic aromas include dark cherry, plum, violet, etc.
The addition of flavorful black pepper adds complexity.
In New Zealand, it is called "Syrah" and not "Shiraz" like in neighboring Australia, because the style of wine produced in cool climates is closer to France than Australia.
summary
If you want to enjoy a robust red wine, we recommend Syrah.
It's fun to experience the differences in origin and quality, such as between the original French and Australian varieties.
If you are planning to eat wild game or charcoal-grilled dishes, be sure to bring along a Syrah. Enjoy its deliciousness.
