Chapter 11 - Syrah and Grenache

Question 1

What is the difference between Syrah and Shiraz?

Answer 1

They are the same grape/wine but called Syrah in France and Shiraz in Australia

Question 2

Describe the Syrah grape

Answer 2

Small with thick, dark skins. Black grape variety.

Question 3

What kinds of wine does Syrah make?

Answer 3

Deeply coloured, with medium to high tannin and medium acidity. Usually full bodied m with black fruits, dark chocolate.

Question 4

What would you see in moderate climate Syrah?

Answer 4

Hints of herbaceousness, smoked meat and spice (black pepper).

Question 5

What would you expect of hot climate Syrah?

Answer 5

More sweet spice (liquorice)

Question 6

How does age affect Syrah?

Answer 6

The best wines develop animal and vegetal complexity (leather, wet leaves, earth)

Question 7

What climate does Syrah grow in?

Answer 7

Moderate to hot. It does not ripen in cool climates

Question 8

Describe the use of oak with shiraz

Answer 8

Many Syrah wines undergo oak treatment either in barrels or via stages or chips. These five toast, smoke, vanilla and coconut flavours to the wine.

Question 9

Describe the Grenache grape and wines it produces

Answer 9

Large with thin skins, high sugar and low acidity. Grenache wines are seldom deep in colour but usually very full bodied. Typically red fruit (strawberry, raspberry) characters with spice notes (white pepper, liquorice).

Question 10

How does age effect Grenache?

Answer 10

Spice evolves to toffee and leather.

Question 11

What climate does Grenache grow in?

Answer 11

Requires hot climate to ripen

Question 12

What type of wine does Grenache make other than red wine? Describe these wines

Answer 12

Rose - tend to be full bodied and dry with red fruit (strawberries). Some are light bodied with medium sweetness.

Question 13

Where is Grenache most widely used for rose? When should they be consumed? What would oak result in?

Answer 13

Southern Rhone, southern france and Spain. Should be consumed young and vibrant. Oak will dull the fruit and give an orange hue, although adds savoury complexity.

Question 14

How does the Syrah/Grenache blend work?

Answer 14

Similar to Cab Sav Merlot.

Adding Grenache to Syrah can add alcohol, lower tanning and acidity, add red fruit and extra spice.
Adding Syrah to Grenache boosts colour, tannin and acidity and adds dark fruit characters.

Question 15

What other grapes are blended with Syrah/Grenache?

Answer 15

In southern Rhône many, including Mourvèdre and Cinsault because they contribute to the character of the wine, others because they’re cheap or easy to grow.

Question 16

What is Syrah-Grenache from Australia like? How is it blended?

Answer 16

Frequently full bodied, fruity red wine with v soft tannins, ideal for light chilling. Some more serious ones are made in south Australia where they are full bodied intense and complex. Often include mataro (Mourvèdre) and are called GSMs

Question 17

What is the classic region in france for Shiraz? Describe the notable features of this area. Name the main appellations

Answer 17

Northern Rhône. The finest wines are grown on steep terraces that tower above the Rhône and many of these are sow narrow no machinery can be used which makes them expensive wines. Sunlight and good drainage provide ideal conditions for powerful, complex, age worthy wines.

Côte-Rôti, Hermitage are the two best appellations.

Then Crozes-Hermitage which is large and flatter so generally less intense and less complex but cheaper. These often display black pepper, tannins and acidity of moderate climate Syrah.

Question 18

What is the classic region in France for Grenache? Describe the notable features of this region and the blending used

Answer 18

Southern Rhône. No steep slopes. Flatter and the vineyards stretch far away from the Rhône covering wide, stony plains. It’s hotter and drier so ideal for Grenache. Usually blended with varieties like Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault.

Question 19

What are the main appellations in Southern Rhône? Describe the styles found

Answer 19

Côtes du Rhône, better sites are labelled Côtes du Rhône Villages. Styles and quality vary considerably. The very cheapest are medium bodied with light tannins and simple juicy red fruit and peppery spice. The best could pass for Chateauneuf-du-Pape in terms of BLIC.

Most famous is Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Some are 100% Grenache but most add some Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Typical CNDP is full bodied with medium tannins and low acidity and an intense complex character including red fruit (strawberries), spice (pepper, liquorice) and animal notes (leather).

Question 20

What other region in france is producing premium Grenache and Syrah?

Answer 20

The south of france, such as Minervous appellation wheee Carignan is often blended with Grenache (carignan can give tough wines with high tannins and acid). Syrah and Mourvèdre are added to give complexity in the best wines.

Question 21

What is the production of Grenache in Spain like and what are the main regions?

Answer 21

It is the most widely planted variety and reaches its highest expression in Priorat where it is deep coloured powerful and full bodied.

Can also be used in Rioja blends however rarely seen in the best. Also used for Rose, best egs are from Navarra and Rioja.

Question 22

Describe the shiraz production in Australia. What are the main regions? Describe their climates and style of wines produced.

Answer 22

Australia is famed for its Shiraz. It is grown throughout Australia and is made in different styles.

Hunter valley
McLaren Vale
Barista

All hot climate.

Intense black fruit (blackberry, plum), sweet spices and notes of dark chocolate. Oak can be pronounced giving flavours of smoke, vanilla and coconut.

Grenache is also grown in the Barossa and McLaren Vale.

Question 23

What other regions in Australia make a lighter style of Shiraz like that in Rhône?

Answer 23

Victoria (the Grampian and Heathcote). These are more pepper and less full bodied. Best egs are intensely flavoured and complex.

Question 24

How else is Shiraz blended in south Australia? What is the relevant GI?

Answer 24

Multi regional blends allow different characteristics to contribute to more complex wines and help produces make premium wine of consistent quality and style in larger quantities. These will be labelled South Australia.

Question 25

Where else is Shiraz grown?

Answer 25

Around the world:

South Africa where deep coloured full bodied wines are made with dried fruit flavours (raisin, prune, fruitcake), smoked meat and oak

California and Washington state produce full bodied dark fruit Shiraz

NZ Hawke’s bay and Chile San Antonio show Greta promise for elegant fruity styles with peppery spice

Question 26

What are the main regions for bulk production Shiraz and Grenache?

Answer 26

Much wine in the Côte du Rhône appellation is made in large volumes at low prices.

Pays d’Oc IGP and Languedoc AC

Spain

The Riverland, Murray-Darling and Riverina in Australia appear as South Eastern Australia

Question 27

What other grape is blended with Shiraz?

Answer 27

Viognier is increasingly fashionable to blend with Shiraz. Follows a northern Rhône tradition of adding so white grapes to the fermentation of Syrah and gives a smooth texture and traces of exotic fruits.

Syrah is also blended with Cab Sav. Grenache may be blended with Tempranillo, or with Mourvèdre or cinsault.