Syrah 🍷
Photo by Stephan Ridgway on Wikimedia Commons
The Syrah (Sih-RAH) grape was originally linked to ancient Persia or Egypt. However, DNA testing in 1998 proved that Syrah originated in France. It naturally occurred when two grape varieties from southeastern France, Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche, naturally crossed.
Today, Syrah is grown all over the world. Its traditional home remains the northern Rhône Valley in France. It is also grown in Australia, where winemakers call it Shiraz. There, some of the oldest continually producing Syrah vines in the world can be found, with some planted back in 1843. You can also find it growing in large quantities across California, Washington state, South Africa, Chile, and Spain.
Wines made from Syrah have aromas of dark fruits and may also include dried herbs, black pepper and licorice.
On the palate, wines made from Syrah can have flavors of dark fruits like blackberries, blueberries, and black plums. They can also have notes of black pepper, smoke, and black licorice.
Syrah wines generally age very well. Thanks to their natural structure and dark skins, high-quality bottles can easily mature in a cellar for 5 to 10 years, and top-tier versions can evolve beautifully for over 20 years.
To get the most out of your bottle, serve Syrah slightly cool, just below room temperature, between 60°F and 65°F (15°C to 18°C). The best glassware to use is a standard red wine glass.