16 Syrah / Shiraz

Question 1

Syrah/Shiraz GI

Answer 1

France: Northern Rhône: Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Côte Rôtie

Australia: South Eastern Australia, Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley

Question 2

In what climates does Syrah/Shiraz prefer to grow?

Answer 2

Moderate

Warm

Question 3

Syrah/Shiraz Feature of grapes

Answer 3

Small grapes with thick-skin

Question 4

When Syrah/Shiraz is used as a blending grape, what qualities will it add?

Answer 4

・Color

・Black fruit flavors

・Tannin

Question 5

Shiraz / Shirah Maturation option

Answer 5

Oak maturation

The oak softens Syrah’s tannins and adds layers of flavors, including smoke and spices.

Question 6

What are some of the developing flavors that emerge as Syrah ages?

Answer 6

・Dried fruit

・Leather

・Meat

・Earth

Question 7

The vineyards in Coto Rotie, Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage are planted in:

Flat land or steep slopes

Answer 7

Coto Rotie, Hermitage: Steep slopes

Crozes Hermitage: Flat land

Question 8

What is the climate of the Northern Rhône?

Answer 8

Moderate

Question 9

However, there are pockets of great warmth which help in Syrah’s ripening. What are they?

Answer 9

The extra warmth comes from vineyard aspect and reflected sunlight of the Rhône River.

Question 10

Because of the steep slopes in the Northern Rhône, are vineyards more likely to be machine harvested or hand harvested?

Answer 10

Hand harvested, which means the resulting wine is likely to be more expensive.

Heads up! Crozes-Hermitage is flat and can be machine harvested, so prices will be lower than Côte Rôtie and Hermitage.

Remember that the best vineyards (Côte Rôtie and Hermitage) are on slopes, not flat land.

Question 11

In the Southern Rhône, Syrah is generally blended with ___, called ___.

Answer 11

Grenache

Rhone Blends

Question 12

What is the one grape allowed to be co-fermented with Syrah in Côte Rôtie?

Answer 12

Viognier

It adds floral aromas and aromatic lift to peppery Syrah.

Question 13

What direction does the steep hill of Hermitage face?

Answer 13

South

Question 14

France Syrah

3,5,6,8

Answer 14

3 Medium

5 Medium - High

6 Medium - High

8 Fresh black fruit (Black cherry, blackberry)

Herbal notes

Black-pepper aromas

Question 15

How do Syrahs from Crozes Hermitage differ from Côte Rôtie and Hermitage?

Answer 15

Crozes Hermitage will be less complex, less concentrated, less expensive and less impressive than Côte Rôtie and Hermitage.

Question 16

Some of the world’s oldest Shiraz vines are in the ___ Valley.

Answer 16

Barossa Valley

Question 17

Barossa Valley Shiraz

3,5,6,8

Answer 17

3 Full-bodied

5 Medium - High

6 High

8 Cooked-black fruit flavours (Blackberry, Blackcherry)

Black pepper

Oak (Vanilla, Coffee)

Question 18

What is the climate of the Barossa Valley?

Answer 18

Warm

Question 19

Hunter Valley Shiraz

3,6,8 (Age)

Answer 19

3 Medium

6 Medium-High

8 Fresh black fruit

Age = Earth, Meat

Question 20

What is the climate of Hunter Valley?

Answer 20

Warm, but cloud cover and sea breezes during the summer months slow the ripening of the grapes.