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A Guide to Shiraz Wine: Our Picks for the 9 Best Shiraz Wine
Syrah = Shiraz
But the name given to the wine may help indicate its taste, similar to how Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are both the same grape but have slightly different flavor profiles.
It is a popular wine in many countries, including Australia, South Africa, and the United States. Shiraz wines can vary in flavor depending on where they are produced, but they are typically fruity and full-bodied.
In this blog post, we will discuss Shiraz wine in more detail and provide some recommendations for 9 of our favorite Shiraz wines on the market.
Table of Contents
What is Shiraz Wine?
Shiraz wine is a type of red wine that is made from the Syrah grape.
In 1832, the father of Australia’s wine industry, James Busby, visited France and took home the Syrah vine cuttings. Syrah was quickly cultivated in Australia because of its ideal weather conditions. At some point, winemakers began calling it Shiraz for unknown reasons; most likely because they simply enjoyed the word more.
Regardless of what you call it, Syrah grape produces one of the darkest red wines on the market and its full-bodied red wine with high tannins and acidity.
And today it is the unofficial national wine of Australia. It’s the most planted and most popular grape varietal in the country. And it’s partly due to the Australian wine industry (like Penfolds winery) that this red wine is so well-known among American drinkers.
Syrah vs Shiraz Wine
As we just mentioned, Shiraz wine is made from the Syrah grape. So essentially they are both the same grape but come from different wine regions. And this will affect how the wine tastes in the end.
The term “Syrah” is often applied to Old World wine regions such as France, while the word “Shiraz” refers to New World wine regions like Australia.
Syrah from France are known for their high acidity, earthy and smoky aromas, whereas Syrah wines from Australia, and the United States tend to be fruit-forward with plenty of spice.
Australian Shiraz wines are typically super ripe, resulting in rich and bold flavors. Blends of Shiraz with Cabernet Sauvignon are prevalent in Australia. So much so that the Cabernet – Shiraz blend makes up a large percentage of Australian red wine blends. Other New World wine regions that make Shiraz are California, Columbia Valley, South Africa, Chile, and New Zealand.
In France, Syrah is grown in the Rhone Valley. Traditionally in France, the classic Côtes du Rhône blend is a GSM blend. This is a beautiful blend of Syrah, light-bodied Grenache, and richer Mourvedre.
What does Syrah Wine Taste Like?
Syrah wines typically have high tannins and acidity, black cassis, blackberries, earth, mineral, gamey, and smoke flavors.
What does Shiraz Wine Taste Like?
Shiraz tasting notes are often described as rich and bold, having bright fruit forward flavors of blueberry, plum, blackberry, with chocolate, pepper and spice notes.
What are the 9 Best Shiraz Wines?
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This Shiraz has a deep purple hue with aromas of blueberry, blackberry, and plum. On the palate, it tastes of dark berries, chocolate, and pepper with firm tannins and good acidity.
Some of the grapes for this wine have been dried on the vine, giving it intense flavors of cherry and plum with dark chocolate and earthy notes. It has a full body with smooth tannins.
This Shiraz is a classic Australian wine made by one of the largest and most well-known wine producers in Australia.
It has aromas of dark fruit flavors and spice. On the palate, it tastes of blackberry, plum, cherry and pepper with notes of vanilla, coffee, and mocha.
This is a rich and full-bodied wine with aromas of plum, blueberry, tobacco, and spice. On the palate, it confirms the aromas with tastes of blueberry, plum, chocolate, and pepper with savory tannins.
This Shiraz is finished in aged whiskey barrels giving it unique rich and deeper flavors not found in other wines.
It has aromas of blackberry, plum, and spice with tastes of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla. On the palate, it has jammy dark fruit flavors and finishes with smooth tannins and notes of oak.
Normally sold around $20, this is a fantastic Shiraz that may be a little more difficult to find in the US market.
This is a deep and intense Shiraz with aromas of raspberry, plum, coffee, and spice. On the palate, it tastes of dark fruits, dark chocolate, coffee, and pepper with smooth velvety tannins.
This is a lighter style of Shiraz with bright aromas of red fruits, violets, and spice. On the palate, it tastes of cherry, raspberry, violet, and paprika spice with soft tannins.
This Shiraz is part of a blend that also includes Grenache, Mataro, and Viognier. It has aromas of dark fruits, fresh herbs, and spice. On the palate, it tastes of blueberry, plum, raspberry, cherry, and black pepper with firm tannins.
This wine is what made Penfolds famous among red wine drinkers. It has the fruit and structure of New World Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz, combined with the well balanced amount of oak. This is a great wine!
Aromas of black currant, blackberry, black cherry, and spice. On the palate, it tastes of rich dark fruits with cocoa, oak, and pepper. It has a long and complex finish.
FAQs
What kind of wine is Shiraz?
Shiraz is a red wine made from the Syrah grape, typically produced in Australia.
Is Shiraz sweet or Merlot?
Shiraz is not a sweet wine, but a dry wine. And Merlot is also typically a dry red wine.
Why is Shiraz so popular?
Shiraz is a very popular wine because it is easy to drink, fruit forward, and has a wide range of flavors that appeal to many people. It is also typically very affordable.
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