Syrah

Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is the great red grape of the Northern Rhône as well as Australia (South Australia and the Barossa Valley in particular). It has also spread around the world as fashion has moved slightly away from Cabernet Sauvignon and towards emulating the popular wines of the Rhône. In the Rhône, Syrah is largely responsible for some of the very best wines - Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie - and is also blended with other local varieties such as Grenache and Mourvèdre. As Shiraz and in such wines as Penfolds Grange and Hill of Grace by Henschke, it is the classic Australian red. With dark berry fruit flavours and secondary characteristics of leather and pepper, the best examples of Syrah are warm and approachable, but age magnificently.