![](https://okanaganlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/October-2007.jpg)
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.
Heavenly sounds, cosmic images in Kelowna
Music of the Heavens is coming to the Mary Irwin Theatre in Rotary Centre for the Arts on Thursday, Nov. 30. The multicultural, multimedia presentation explores stories from the diverse fabric of Canadian and Indigenous society.
Innkeepers Gala embraces a cause close to home
Hotel Eldorado kicking off the holiday season in style—and benefiting an important cause—with the Innkeeper’s Gala set for Saturday, November 25. The proceeds from this year’s event are in support of the KGH Foundation’s Better Together campaign to open JoeAnna’s...
Sacred Sounds
Choirs from the Cathedral Church of St Michael and All Angels are proud of the 104-year-old-stone cathedral building near downtown Kelowna, with its wonderful acoustics and aged charm
Be merry with a winter weekend in wine country
Welcome the festive season with a memorable weekend of great wine, food and fundraising in Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country. On Saturday November 25, Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association and Oliver Tourism Association will host the first “Be Merry,” an evening of great wine...
DOJA makes marijuana moves in Okanagan
One of the Okanagan’s biggest pot businesses has been making big moves over the past few months. DOJA Cannabis Co. jumped onto the CSE in August under the symbol, DOJA. Since then, they’ve expanded, harvested and are making final preparations for legalization next...
Summerland’s Light up the Vines celebration expands
Enjoy the sparkle of the season while touring Summerland wineries Wineries, cideries and a brewery are opening their doors fro the 7th annual Light up the Vines celebration. “We love throwing open our doors for visitors for this annual celebration. It’s a great way to...