Shiraz/Syrah comes from France. This noble red grape variety is mainly grown in the northern Rhône, where it produces the great red wines of the Hermitage, Cote Rôtie, St. Joseph and Cornas appellations, and in Australia, where it produces wines of astonishing depth and intensity. In their youth, these wines are bursting with pepper, spices, tar and black syrup. After 5-10 years, they become soft and velvety with pronounced fruity aromas of plums, raspberries, blackcurrants and mulberries.
In the southern Rhône, Shiraz/Syrah is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras, among others. The most significant origin in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating back to 1860. Australian Shiraz wines tend to be sweeter than their northern Rhône counterparts, and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice and plums, and show lush blackcurrant. Some South African producers are now also producing world-class Shiraz wines that are great value for money. New Zealand wines made from the Syrah or Shiraz grape variety are fighting their way to the top of the world. Due to the cooler climate, they are much leaner than the wines from Australia and resemble the Rhône type.
