Pair this bold, rich wine with equally bold dishes. Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is very popular as a varietal among wine lovers and can be found throughout most winemaking regions, but is also often used in blends. It is a dark-skinned grape variety used to produce red wine with origins in the Rhone region of France. DNA technology has shown that Syrah is an offspring of Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche.
Syrah wines are usually deep, dark and rich with intense flavours and tend to be full bodied. The flavour can depend on the region where the grapes were grown, but you can expect fruit flavours of blackberry and blueberry, along with savoury pepper and notes of tobacco and herbs. With medium acidity and medium tannins Syrah wines can often benefit from oak ageing. Expect a delicious, spicy peppery finish.
Although France is known to produce excellent Syrah, Canadian-produced Syrah wines are on the rise. Producers in Ontario and British Columbia are gaining more recognition for the wines they are producing. Syrah pairs extremely well with food – think barbecued and smoked meats, pasta with Bolognese sauce, and dishes featuring lots of black pepper.
In summary, Syrah has the following characteristics:
Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is a dark-skinned red wine grape.
Origins come from Rhone, France.
Offspring of Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche.
Can be found throughout most winemaking regions
Produces a deep, dark, rich red wine
Strong flavours and full-bodied.
Dark berry fruit and pepper flavours with notes of tobacco and herbs.
