Here’s a short round the world trip exploring the Syrah, or Shiraz, grape.

I recently hosted my first virtual wine tasting and ‘Syrah to Shiraz’ was the theme for the evening. It was fascinating to see how the wine changes with different climates and wine production methods.

Syrah/Shiraz is the same grape variety but named differently in different regions. It loves a hot climate, which produces a rich red wine full of dark fruit flavours and the classic black pepper spice. 

We chose three Syrah/Shiraz wines; from the Northern Rhone (France), Western Cape (South Africa) and McClaren Vale (Australia). Each was from the 2018 vintage and all available from Waitrose. And, my top tip is that you can order in any quantity, which is perfect for a 3-wine tasting event!

Here are the three that we tasted.

Cave de Saint Desirat St. Joseph, 2018 (14%). Northern Rhône, France

Northern Rhone Syrah

The northern Rhône produces some of the world’s finest Syrah wines, which is the only red grape that is used in the region. This in contrast to the southern Rhône which uses a complex blend of white and red grapes to produce its wine, with as many as 13 being permitted for a Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The vineyards in St. Joseph are on steep hills on the riverside and it is one of the coolest regions where Syrah will grow. This produces a medium bodied fine wine with complex flavours, medium tannin and medium acidity.

On the nose we had aromas of plums, cherries, black pepper along with coffee and liquorice from well-integrated oak. These same flavours were also reflected on the palate along with an additional floral note – like violets.

This is still a young wine and will continue to age beautifully over the next 5-10 years. I’m going to stock up now so that I have plenty to look forward to!

A perfect pairing for cheese, fillet steak or a roast dinner.

No 1 Foundation Cederberg Syrah, 2018 (14%). Western Cape, South Africa

South Africa Syrah Shiraz

Shiraz (Syrah) is a foundation red grape variety in South Africa, along with Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. And the region produces fantastic, easy drinking wines to enjoy on any occasion.

There is a mixed climate – inland is very warm and dry, whereas the coast is cooled by sea breezes. This means that wines like this, where the grapes are sourced from across the region have a lovely balance of softness and approachability but still with the Shiraz characteristics. 

In this wine we had aromas of plums, sour cherries, brambles and oak notes of vanilla and cedar. Very similar on the palate but with more black pepper spice and blackcurrants coming through. Tannins were light to medium and the acidity was medium to high. This is a wine that is refreshing as well as comforting. 

Ready to drink and would work well with cheese, tomato sauces, light game or even a Wednesday evening pizza! 

The Hedonist Shiraz, 2018 (14%). Barossa Valley, Australia

Australian Shiraz

This Shiraz was the ‘punchiest’ of all three that we tried and definitely lived up to expectations of an Australian Shiraz!  

Shiraz is one of the main red grapes produced in Australia and McClaren Vale, along with Barossa (north of Adelaide), produces some of the finest Shiraz in the region. McClaren Vale is coastal, meaning there’s a cooling element from the sea breeze, which produces a finer wine than its neighbour in Barossa Valley. 

Here, we enjoyed a deep, rich ruby coloured wine, full of aromas of violets, blackcurrants, plums and black pepper. The oak flavours came through on the palate with the addition of tobacco. Full bodied, with medium acidity and tanning and a really long finish.

It is a really rich, indulgent wine, we described as though “you’re being wrapped up in velvet”. One to be drunk carefully and definitely enjoyed with food. The alcohol content was the same on all three – 14% – but this wine felt much more powerful than that!

Perfect for a BBQ or a steak and also great with a rich stew after a winter’s walk. 

What better way than spend an evening on a word tour exploring Syrah and Shiraz!

About

Jo is an independent wine enthusiast, who is qualified as WSET Level 3 (with distinction). She is passionate about wine and enjoys sharing her advice through her blogs. Jo is also a keen photographer and loves taking the photos of wine almost as much as tasting it! Read more on My Story.