Two names: one great grape

[downloads category="current-issue" columns="1" excerpt="no"]

two-names-one-great-grape

Syrah – Shiraz … whatever you call it, this French/Aussie varietal can mix ’n’ match or stand tall on its own

Syrah, the great red grape of the northern Rhône, produces such superstars as Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie as well as Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and Cornas. At their best, these long ageing wines are dark, dense and immensely concentrated with flavours of spice, leather, tar, game and blackberries. 

In the southern Rhône and the vast Languedoc, Syrah has enjoyed an extraordinary surge in popularity. Here it’s not consumed so much as a single varietal but as a component adding complexity and structure to blends that include Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsaut.

The grape has also flourished in Australia since the first half of the 19th century, where it has always been identified as Shiraz, a name that may be better known to many consumers than the French original. Typically, Aussie Shiraz shows riper fruit and suppler texture than the Rhône examples.

Quick facts

• Syrah/Shiraz represents about 10% of the red wine produced in the Okanagan

• Penfolds Grange (shiraz) is Australia’s most famous and long-lived wine 

• Rhône Rangers: American winemakers producing Rhône varietals (Bonny doon)

• More Rhône — Gigondas, Lirac, Vacqueyras

• More Midi — Coteaux du Languedoc, Corbières, Vin de Pays d’Oc

Best way to enjoy

Food pairings: Hearty dishes: intensely-flavoured stews, meaty casseroles; Rich roasted meats: game, beef, lamb; Char-grilled meats; Baked dishes made with lamb, beef, pork, duck, sausages; Hard cheeses like an aged cheddar

Temperature: 18 to 21 C

Type of glass: good quality, large bowled, stemmed 

Read more of the original stories celebrated in our 30th-anniversary issue.

Wine reviews: Valley expressions of bold red wines

Wine reviews: Valley expressions of bold red wines

As seen in [downloads ids="156027" columns="1"] Summerland Pyramid Winery 2014 OM Organic MeritageKelowna, Okanagan Valley1/2  $65 This Bordeaux blend is very new-world in style. Full-bodied and robust, it is a wonderful presentation of ripe dark fruits...

read more
Beautiful blends

Beautiful blends

Even a blend of one or two percent can make a significant difference in wine, says sommelier Mike Lee.

read more

Whites: Best of BC Wine Awards 2018

Let’s celebrate the wines from our fourth annual Okanagan Life Best of BC Wine Awards, this year held at the Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan. Our judging panel was a select group of independent, experienced wine judges from the trade, restaurant and education...

read more
In the kitchen with Kristina Klein at EATology

In the kitchen with Kristina Klein at EATology

At the bus stop Young Vernon chef serves up the science of eating fresh food It started out as a side thing, but then it just took off, says Kristina Klein, founder of EATology, an unusual bus depot diner in Vernon. It’s modern, but funky, with wooden floors instead...

read more
Wine reviews: Sperling Sparkling Brut

Wine reviews: Sperling Sparkling Brut

Sperling Vineyards 2011 Sparkling Brut Kelowna, Okanagan Valley  1/2 $40.00 Reminiscent of a fine quality Champagne, this single vineyard Pinot Blanc sparkling wine is grown organically and biodynamically, allowing it to truly represent its own unique...

read more

Garagiste winemakers

  A garage can make for a passionate first crush At 650 metres above sea level, Forgotten Hill Wine Co. is the highest-elevation vineyard in the South Okanagan — a nod to a tract of land way up the hill on a forested, gravel road past...

read more

Penny wise: Confessions of a thrift store shopper

Back in the swinging sixties, I was six and still enjoying playground swings. It was not until I was out of my brown school uniform and had started working that I realized what I’d been missing out on, fashion-wise.      My hard-earned money...

read more
Carbon is Not the Enemy. End Chemtrails!

Carbon is Not the Enemy. End Chemtrails!

Look in the Sky and Notice the Harm Being Done. Ask questions. Demand Answers Hall’s Introduction We are are being induced to feed and consume the Netzero/Climate Change nonsense being peddled by the predators disguised as our governors. Carbon is not our enemy....

read more
Yes, Schools are Transitioning Kids!

Yes, Schools are Transitioning Kids!

The School to Medical Pathway Image from CNN Woke Watch Canada is a reader-supported publication. Please consider becoming a paying subscriber or making a one-time or recurring donation to show your support. Today’s post continues a Woke Watch...

read more
Welcome back to Okanagan Life Magazine

Welcome back to Okanagan Life Magazine

For over 40 years I absolutely loved being a journalist, magazine owner, editor and publisher of Okanagan Life, Lethbridge Magazine, Thompson Life and Medicine Hat Life. I started by publishing the Alberta Dusters Semi-Pro Basketball Program in 1980 in...

read more
Canada Is Older Than the USA

Canada Is Older Than the USA

A History Lesson to Expose the Depth of "the Totally Unacceptable Insults and Unprecedented Threats" Made by President Donald Trump to "Our Very Sovereignty." Anthony James Hall “…. the totally unacceptable insults and the unprecedented threats to our very sovereignty...

read more

0 Comments

Submit a Comment