Shiraz

Question 1

Describe the Syrah grape

Answer 1

It is a small grape with thick skins

Question 2

Describe the primary and structural characteristics of Syrah

Answer 2

Syrah has pronounced fresh to cooked black fruit, pepper to liquorice spice, high acidity, high tannin and is medium to full in body

Question 3

What climates does Syrah thrive in?

Answer 3

Moderate to warm climates

Question 4

What are the maturation options of Syrah, why? What do these options add to the wine?

Answer 4

Syrah is oak aged to soften tannins and add secondary characters of smoke, spice.

Bottle aging is possible due to intensity of fruit flavour and high levels of tannins, adds dried fruit, leather, meat and earth.

Question 5

What are the blending options available to Syrah?

What are the uses of Syrah in blends?

Answer 5

Syrah can be a single varietal or blended with the Rhone grapes - Grenache, Mouvedre, Viognier, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia.

Syrah can be blended in small amounts with other varietals to add colour and tannin

Question 6

What black grapes are permitted in Northern Rhone’s AOCs?

Answer 6

Only Syrah

Question 7

Is the Rhone Valley narrow? Where are the best sites situated? What makes them good? What is the drawback

Answer 7

The Rhone Valley is very narrow, the best sites are on the steep slopes which allows the Rhone river to reflect sunlight onto the leaves.

The slopes are too steep for machinery, must be hand picked, increases price

Question 8

What is the climate of the Rhone Valley? What allows Syrah in the Rhone Valley to ripen?

Answer 8

Moderate. The river reflects sunlight onto the leaves to help ripen the fruit

Question 9

Describe Cote Rotie AOC: latitude, vineyard slope, soil.

Answer 9

Most northerly of Rhone appellations, vey steep slopes with stoney soil

Question 10

Describe Cote Rotie AOC wine: traditional blending components, complexity, spice, body, tertiary aging potential

Answer 10

Syrah with Viognier for perfume, complex and peppery with medium body and a high potential for bottle aging

Question 11

What does Hermitage AOC consist of?

Answer 11

One steep south facing hill

Question 12

Describe Crozes-Hermitage AOC. Describe the wine

Answer 12

Surrounds the Hermitage AOC hill. It is larger, flatter, has a higher yield and is machine harvested. The wine is cheaper, less intense and less complex

Question 13

Describe Syrah in South France and name a AOC that uses Syrah. Describe the blend

Answer 13

Due to South France’s reliably warm climate Syrah ripens well. Minervois AOC in Languedoc blends Syrah with the rhone reds and Lladoner Pelut

Question 14

Is Shiraz Australia’s most widely planted red grape?

Answer 14

Yes

Question 15

What is the GI in Australia for high volume shiraz wine from the warm inland regions?

Answer 15

South Eastern Australia

Question 16

Where are the world’s oldest shiraz vines?

Answer 16

Barossa Valley

Question 17

Describe Barossa Valley’s climate and describe their old vine Shiraz

Answer 17

The climate is warm. The grapes are low yield so the wine is very concentrated with a high volume of ripe tannins, cooked black fruit, black pepper and oak

Question 18

Describe the Hunter Valley’s climate and indicate moderating influences

Answer 18

The climate is warm but cool sea breezes and high cloud cover in the summer slows ripening

Question 19

Describe the primary characteristics of Hunter Valley Shiraz. What tertiary qualities does it develop?

Answer 19

Fresh black fruit, medium to high tannin, medium body, tertiary notes of earth and meat

Question 20

What is a broad appeal of Syrah?

Answer 20

It’s fresh fruit scent, as well as being a full bodied red with cooked fruit character.

Question 21

What makes Syrah particularly good to pair with food?

Answer 21

Syrah possesses an identifiable pepper character which allows it to be paired with food