We know it’s confusing, but Shiraz and Syrah are one and the same. The grape produces serious red wine capable of ageing majestically for decades.  There are differing theories to explain how, when and where the name changed, but we suspect that Australians just wanted something to call their own.  

Although the grape is the same, the wines produced from Shiraz/Syrah are enormously different, depending on where it is being grown.

The finest Syrah/Shiraz is currently grown in France=s northern Rhone Valley and the regions of Barossa and McLaren Vale in Australia. California is making strides but the finest examples are still always compared to those of the Rhone or South Australia.  Because these regions have different climates and soil compositions, the resulting wines taste very different from one another. 

Where the Grape is Grown

Australia - Australian Shirazes are richly concentrated and loaded with berry fruit.  They are bold and spicy and may have hints of eucalyptus or mint. 

The best values in Syrah/Shiraz are from Australia hands-down. There are numerous tasty, crowd-pleasing Shiraz in the $10 - $15 price range that the Rhone and California cannot touch. Much of Australia=s advantage is due to the nature of their viticulture, i.e, the fact that the country is so wide open (and land so inexpensive) that huge volumes of quality grapes can be grown at an economy of scale unknown in the Rhone and France.

The top Australian examples, coming from the warmer climates of McLaren Vale and Barossa, tend to be jammier and enormously full-bodied. Some people often claim these wines are too Aover the top,” but we don’t believe you can have too much of a good thing!

France -  Syrah’s home is in the Northern Rhone Valley where small wine districts including Hermitage, Cote Rotie, and St. Joseph grow only Syrah. Syrah from the northern Rhone tends to be more elegant with wines typically exhibiting aromas and flavors of violets, blueberries, and smoky bacon, along with touches of leather and damp earth. 

Syrah is also grown in the Southern Rhone (where it’s blended with Grenache) and in  the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France.

California - The grape is called called either Syrah or Shiraz here in California is a promising new frontier for the grape.   Producers growing Syrah along the central coast are dubbed “Rhone Rangers.”
Elsewhere: South African Shiraz tends to be similar to a smoky Australian, and we’ve also seen examples of this grape from Spain, Italy, Argentina, and Chile.

Food Pairing

Syrah is a serious wine not for the faint of heart.  It goes well with hearty rich meaty dishes.   Australian Shiraz is a great match for grilled steak.  (Otherwise, it will easily overpower most foods.)