If you have decided to get some more information about Syrah wine, you have excellent taste! This site is devoted to all things Syrah.
Syrah is one of the six largest grape varietals, with the others being Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Syrah wine originates out of the Rhone valley in France. Syrah wine has spread far and wide and it is grown in many parts of the world. It is quite popular in Australia and South Africa, where it is called "Shiraz." If you are poured an Hermitage or Marsanne Noir, you are also drinking Syrah wine.
Syrah grapes tend to thrive in hot climates. In addition to Australia, South Africa and France, Syrah wine is also made in the United States (California, Washington and Southern Oregon), Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Chile (and France of course). Australia is currently the largest producer of Syrah wine whereas France plants the greatest number of hectares of Syrah grape.
The best known Syrah wines are from the Rhone region, as is fitting of their birthplace. Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Cote-Rotie, Cornas and St-Joseph are well-known Syrah wines from the northern Rhone region. In southern Rhone it is typically blended with Grenache. Look for fine blended wines from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes du Rhones, Gigondas and Vacqueyras. Australia, however, has a king's share of the Syrah wine market. Australia exports a number of high quality Syrah wines that are at budget prices. It also exports premium Syrah wines at high price points.
Syrah wine is used as a varietal and is also blended. Syrah wine is full-bodied and has a spicy or peppery taste. You should pair it with foods such as steak, pork, lamb, duck, wild game, stews, cheese, heavy vegetarian dishes, and barbecued or grilled meats. They also tend to pair well with spicy foods, such as Indian food.
There are many flavors or scents that have been used to describe syrah wine, including bay leaf, black currant, black olive, black pepper, black truffle, blackberry, blueberry, cachou, cedar, cherry, chocolate, cinnamon, civet, coconut, clove, earth, eucalyptus, expresso, fig, grass, licorice, mocha, mint, musk, plum, rasberry, red currant, rosemary, sage, sandalwood, smoke, spice, thyme, truffle, vanilla and violets.
Syrah is not the same as Petit Sirah. Petit Sirah is a different grape altogether, and is primarily grown in California.
If you love Syrah wine, you should try the winners of the Syrah du Monde competition. Syrah du Monde is an international wine competition devoted solely to Syrah wine. Every year, the competition takes place in Ampuis Castle in the beautiful town of Ampuis, France. Syrah du Monde is recognized for maintaining the highest standards of competition, with optimal tasting conditions, extreme care in selection of judges, computer processing of results and refined tasting procedures. Syrah du Monde has official recognition from the French Ministry of Economy, Finances and Industry. The 2011 Syrah Du Monde competition occurred from May 11 through 13th. The top 10 2011 Syrahs were as follows: Pays d'Oc IGP Syrah les epices 2009 from Domaine les Yeuses (France), Valais AOC Syrah du Valais Eleve en Barriques 2009 from Cave la Madeleine (Switzerland), Durbanville Hills Rhinofields Shiraz 2008 from Distell (South Africa), Cortonoa Doc Il Bosco Syrah 2007 from Tenimenti Lguigi D'Allessandro srl (italy), Crozes-Hermitage Les Hauts du Fief 2009 from Cave de Tain l'Hermitgage (France), Franschhoek Cellar Baker Station Shiraz 2009 from DGB Ltd (South Africa), Vin de Pays d'Oc Camplazens Syrah 2010 from Scea Chateau Complazens (France), Mum's Block Barossa Valley Shiraz 2008 from Cellarmaster Wines Pty Ltd (Australia), Encore Syrah 2007, from Katarzyna Estate (Bulgaria), and Cumulus Shiraz 2008 from Cumulus Wines Pty Ltd (Australia).
In 2010, the top 10 Syrah du Monde wines were as follows: Vin de Pays d'Oc "Jeunesse" 2009 from Domaine de la Baume (France), The mentors Shiraz 2008, KWV (South Africa), La Joya Reserve 2009 from Vinas Bisquerrtt Ltda (Chile), Ben Schild Reserve Shiraz 2007 from Schild Estate Wines (Australia), Black Marble Hill Syrah 2007 from Rhebokskloof Wine Estate (South Africa), St. Andrew Shiraz 2004 from Taylors/Wakefiel (Australia), St. Joseph AOC - Esprit Granit 2007 from Cave de Tain L'Hermitage (France), St. Chinian AOC - Apogee 2008 from UC Foncalieu (France), 6th Sense Syrah 2007 from Michael - David Winery (United States) and Cornas AOC - Pur Noir 2006 from Domaine du Tunnel.
Try any of these Syrahs and you will experience the finest Syrah wine the world has to offer. Syrah wines can make an excellent addition to your wine cellar. They tend to age very well. If you have a taste for robust and full-bodied wines, you cannot go wrong with Syrah wine.