You Say Syrah, I say Shiraz…

After spending a couple of weeks in the Rhône Valley tasting its Syrah-based blends, we thought a comparison with a New World Syrah — or, as the Aussies call it, Shiraz — would be fun.

First, let’s get our terminology straight.

• “Shiraz” is the same as the “Syrah” grape found elsewhere (the original vines were imported from the Rhône).  The differences between Shiraz and Syrah wines are due to terroir and vinification techniques, not grape varieties.  The reason for the different name is purely marketing: Australians thought that their wine was distinctive, so they adopted “Shiraz” to help differentiate it.  (Until the 1980s, Australian Syrah was often called “Hermitage” after the Rhône appellation).
• “Old World” refers to Europe, and “New World” refers to pretty much everything else.

Shiraz is the most widely-planted, and well known, Australian grape – it accounts for approximately one-fourth of Australian wine production.  Because Australian wines are typically labeled by grape variety, it’s easy to pick out a Shiraz.   And, don’t be surprised by the screw-top cap.  It’s not a sign of inferior quality, and will be found on all but the most expensive Shiraz bottles.

As you can see on the map above, Shiraz is grown throughout Australia.  Some regions to know (these will typically be shown on the label):

• Barossa Valley and Eden Valley are part of the Barossa zone, which is the largest Shiraz producer.  Its wines feature black fruit and spices.  Barossa Valley is more full-bodied than the cooler-climate Eden Valley.  These wines are widely available, and a great place to start if you’re unfamiliar with Shiraz.
• Adelaide Hills has a cool climate, so its wines have lower alcohol levels and are medium bodied, with fine tannins, black fruit, pepper and spices.
• McLaren Vale has full-bodied Shiraz with notes of rich blueberry, spice, black olives and chocolate.  Today we're sampling a wine from this appellation.
• Clare Valley, with its warm climate, produces full-bodied wines with intense black fruit, spices and an almost creamy texture.
• Heathcote is considered the “powerhouse” of Shiraz production, with robust, full-bodied, complex wines.

Although there are variations among Australian regions and producers, a Shiraz generally will be oaked, full-bodied, with strong black fruit, spices (particularly pepper). An overview of Shiraz characteristics is provided in the chart below.  In contrast, the Rhône Syrahs tend to have more muted fruits, more earthy notes and much stronger tannins.  Because the Shiraz has milder tannins,  you can drink it when it is younger.   Shiraz ranges from relatively inexpensive, food friendly wines to expensive, internationally acclaimed wines that are suitable for cellaring, such as the Penfolds Grange.  Note that Australian wines are no longer the bargain that they were a few years ago, as increased demand from Asia has driven up prices.