![](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.
Great Okanagan Beer Festival announces event music lineup
Great Okanagan Beer Festival (GOBF), presented by The Train Station Pub, takes place on May 11 in Downtown Kelowna. The event features Ancient Engines, Red Chair and Small Town Artillery on the Waterfront Park this year.
Want to unlock the potential of food?
It can be hard to navigate the world of diet videos, healthy eating tips, superfoods, meal planning and the latest diet trends. Should people be gluten-free? Is fat good now? What’s a keto?
Kelowna awards volunteers, artists, athletes and business leaders
The annual award ceremony recognizes volunteers, artists, athletes and business leaders that made significant contributions to the city in 2018.
Health Care Assistant program starts in Salmon Arm
An intake of Okanagan College’s Health Care Assistant program is scheduled for May at the Salmon Arm campus, giving students in the Shuswap direct access to training for one of the most in-demand positions in the province.
Blue Man Group comes to Penticton
The Blue Man Group stops by Penticton’s South Okanagan Event Centre on their World Tour on April 23 and 24. The award-winning stage show is known for its’ trio of bald and blue performers.
Short-term rental regulations moving forward
On Feb. 25, Council took another step toward approving regulations for short-term rentals in Kelowna, giving first reading to a Zoning Bylaw amendment for short-term rental accommodations.