Syrah Grape variety guide: history, French regions, taste & food pairing
Syrah is the noble red grape of the northern Rhône Valley, producing some of France's most profound, peppery and long-lived wines. Known as Shiraz in Australia, it is one of the world's great red varieties.
Learn more about Syrah
History & origins
Legends once linked Syrah to the Persian city of Shiraz, but DNA research in 1998 proved it is a French native, a natural cross of Dureza from the Ardèche and Mondeuse Blanche from Savoie. It has been grown on the granite slopes of Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie for centuries and spread to the south of France in the 20th century.
French regions & appellations
Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage (northern Rhône); a key blending partner in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône, Languedoc, Minervois, Corbières and Roussillon.
Taste profile
Medium to full body with blackberry, blueberry, black olive, violet, black pepper, smoked meat and bacon fat, with firm tannins and savory depth.
Food pairing
Lamb shoulder, steak au poivre, venison, duck, grilled sausages, beef stew, mushrooms and aged hard cheeses.