Que Syrah or Shiraz... and Petite Sirah, too!
What exactly is the difference between Shiraz and
Syrah? Well, it's kind of a trick question since both
Shiraz and Syrah are the same varietal. While the
French are the original Syrah producers, Australia
later came onto the scene offering big, bold Shiraz,
which is their version of Syrah. Shiraz is simply the
same grape as Syrah.
To stop here would be the most simple definition of
Shiraz and Syrah but there is more to the
distinction. Australians have been growing Shiraz for
decades, and it has become their most widely
planted varietal. It wasn't until France suffered some
bad vintages, that Australian Shiraz grew as a
popular alternative. It is typically full-bodied with big,
bold, spicy flavors that adventurous wine drinkers
love. Compared to the often lean, elegant, refined
Syrahs of France with their terroir character and
finesse, Shiraz is like a Jackson Pollock next to a
watercolor. Both fabulous in their own right, each is
distinct in style.
A second factor in the rise of Australian Shiraz
is affordability. French winegrowers have
generations of experience, and with that world-class
reputation often comes a world-class price. Shiraz is
an excellent value with great quality and flavor at an
everyday price. Traditionalists raise a valid point
when they criticize Aussie Shiraz as being too bold
and spicy to pair with food. However, while that may
hold true if served with elegant French cuisine, many
have found that Shiraz is the perfect foil for
barbecue, spiced dishes and pizza, all common at the
American table.
Today, winemakers craft two different styles of this
lovely spiced red. Most French winemakers label their
version Syrah, while Australians have their Shiraz.
But what about California and South
Africa, where Shiraz/Syrah is also grown? And why
do we have Circus Shiraz by French producer L'Ostal
Cazes? There are not strict labeling guidelines
regarding the use of Shiraz or Syrah (except with
French AOC or Italian DOCG/DOC
wines), so it is a producer's preference as to what is
used. Often, but not always, the bold, rich and
powerful bottlings are
Shiraz, and a harvest that has yielded a softer,
leaner wine reveals Syrah. This may explain why
L'Ostal
Cazes calls its 2003 Circus Vin De Pays "Shiraz,"
suggesting a fat, fruit-forward style with plenty of
spice. Whatever your preference, we
love both Syrah and Shiraz!
Then there is Petite Sirah, which is often confused
with Syrah due to name similarity. People often
ask if Petite Sirah is made from small Syrah grapes.
While that is a great guess, it is untrue. Although the
nomenclature is similar and Petite Sirah is an
offspring of Syrah, the vines and grapes of the two
are quite different. Petite Sirah has had a roller
coaster history and has gone through
DNA testing and several academic studies, revealing
that it is the same grape as Durif, a hybrid varietal
named after a man who crossed Syrah with Peloursin
in an effort to create a mildew-resistant varietal.
(But the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
of
the US Dept. of Treasury has yet to approve Petite
Sirah and Durif to be used synonymously.) Petite
Sirah
has traditionally been used as a blending grape to
add deep color and more intense tannins. On its own,
Petite Sirah is rich in dark black fruit
flavors, black peppery, pleasant, and delicious, as
recent Wine Club members experienced. So add
Petite Sirah, which can age slowly and survive fairly
long cellaring of ten years or more, to your list of
wines to try.
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