Syrah/Shiraz

Question 1

What size are Shiraz grapes

Answer 1

Small

Question 2

What type of skin does Syrah have

Answer 2

Thick skinned
(Black Grape)

Question 3

What can you expect from a typical Moderate climate Syrah/Shiraz

Aromas (4)-Body

Answer 3

• Fresh Black fruits
• Blackberry
• Black Cherry
• Herbal notes
• Black Pepper
• Medium Bodied

This is the Northern Rhone style of Syrah

Question 4

What can you expect from a warm climate Shiraz

Aromas (2)-Body-Alcohol

Answer 4

• Cooked black fruits
• Liquorice
• Full Body
• High Alcohol

Riper style typically Australia and the naming of the bottle should help

Question 5

Shiraz/Syrah makes many single varietals but is it used in blends?

Where and what grapes

Answer 5

Yes
Southern Rhone
Rhone Blend
(GSM Genache-Syrah-Mouverdre)
(Penfolds Grange-Shiraz Cabernet)

Question 6

Why can you age S.S. and is it oaked?

Shiraz/Syrah

Answer 6

• Yes oak is used on SS to soften tannins and desireable flavours(Smoke-Spice)
• Where the wine is very good our outstanding it can be aged
• The intense flavour and TANNINS allow for SS to be aged

Question 7

How long can you age SS for and what flavours (4) will it develop in the bottle

Shiraz/Syrah

Answer 7

• Decade or more
• Dried fruit
• Leather
• Meaty
• Earth notes

Question 8

5 important regions to France for Syrah

Shiraz/Syrah

Answer 8

• Northern Rhone
• Cote Rotie
• Hermitage
• Crozes-Hermitage
• Langeudoc-Rousillion (South of france)

Question 9

What grape can be grown in the Northern Rhone AOC?

Answer 9

Only Syrah

Question 10

Where are the best vineyards planted on the Northern Rhone

Answer 10

• On the steep slopes alond the Rhone River

Question 11

Climate of the Northern Rhone

Answer 11

Moderate
* Aspect and slope here is a big deal as it allows further ripening due to more sunlight.

Question 12

Why is the wine from the Northern Rhone expensive

Answer 12

• Other than supply and demand the sites are on steep slopes and machinery cannot be used. All vineyard work is done by hand which makes the wine expensive to produce

Question 13

Where is the Cote Rotie AOC

Answer 13

• Far North of the Northern Rhone
  (North Limit of where Syrah can successfully ripen)

Question 14

What is the terrain of the best Cote Rotie and what noteable tradition is practiced here?

Answer 14

• Exceptionally steep
• Stony slopes
• Co ferment small amounts of Viognier with the Syrah
  (Can add floral aroma)

Not all producers add viognier

Question 15

Describe Hermitage

Answer 15

• Its one steep south facing hill right in the middle of the Northern Rhone

Question 16

What surrounds Hermitage

Answer 16

The flatter appelation Crozes-Hermitage AOC

Question 17

Some facts about Crozes-Hermitage

Intesity-Price-Farming

Answer 17

• Wines are generally less intense than Cote Rotie and Hermitage
• Also less complex
• Prices are typically lower due to higher yields &
• Ability to mechanize the vineyard

Question 18

The region not in the Rhone that also grows Syrah?

Answer 18

Languedoc-Rousillon

Question 19

2 wine appelation from the Languedoc

Answer 19

• Minervois AOC (blended Syrah)
• Pays d’Oc IGP

Question 20

Outside of France where is the largest planting of Syrah

Answer 20

Australia
(Shiraz)

Question 21

In Australia where is the inexpensive high volume Shiraz grown?

Answer 21

All brands labelled South Eastern Australia

Question 22

Where are some of the oldest Shitaz vines from

Answer 22

Barossa Valley
(South Australia)

Question 23

Two famous Australian Shiraz regions

Answer 23

• Barossa Valley
• Hunter Valley

Question 24

Barossa old vine Shiraz grid

Tannin-Body-Flavours (5)

Answer 24

• Low yields means concentrated fruit
• Ripe Tannin
• Full bodied
• Cooked black fruits
• Blackberry
• Black Cherry
• Black Pepper
• Vanilla
• Coconut

Question 25

Hunter Valley climate attributes

Answer 25

• Very hot summer
• High cloud cover
• Sea breezes slow ripening

Question 26

Hunter valley Shiraz Grid (think climate)

Tannin-Body-Flavours-bottle aged flavours

Answer 26

• Medium to High tannins
• Medium Bodied
• Fresh black fruit flavours
• Develop complex flavours of EARTH and MEAT with bottle age