Shiraz grape
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Shiraz or Syrah is a variety of grape used in wine. The names are interchangeable. It is called Syrah in France and most often in the USA. In South Africa, Australia, and Canada it is most commonly known as Shiraz. In Australia it used to be called Hermitage up to the late 1980s.
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Naming
Winemakers (or wine marketers) sometimes choose one name over the other to signify a stylistic difference in the wine they have made. "Syrah" labelled wines are sometimes thought to be more similar to Old World examples (presumably more elegant or restrained) such as Northern Rhône reds. "Shiraz" labelled wines are more similar to New World examples (presumably riper and fruitier), but even this rule of thumb is unevenly applied.
Origin
It was believed that the name of the grape Shiraz was taken from that of the city of Shiraz, Iran, where the process of wine making possibly originated 7000 years ago. In fact, this grape originated in France, according to a DNA study in 1998. The study proved that the grape had originated in the vicinity of the Northern Rhône valley of France, as the result of a cross of the "Dureza" and "Mondeuse Blanche" grape varieties. Competing historic accounts state that the Syrah/Shiraz was brought into southern France by a returning crusader, Guy De'Sterimberg. He became a hermit and developed a vineyard on a steep hill where he lived in the Rhône River Valley. It became known as the Hermitage. Syrah continues to be the main grape of the Northern Rhône and is associated with classic wines such as Hermitage, Cornas and Côte-Rôtie. Although its best incarnations will age for decades, less-extracted styles may be enjoyed young for their lively red and blue berry characters and smooth tannin structure. Shiraz has been widely used as a blending grape in the red wines of many countries due to its fleshy fruit mid-palate, balancing the weaknesses of other varieties and resulting in a "complete" wine.
Wine
It is a grape variety widely used to make dry red table wine. Shiraz is often vinified on its own, but is also frequently blended with other grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier. It is grown in many wine producing regions around the world.
Many premium Shiraz-based wines are at their best after some considerable time aged in a cellar. In Australia Shiraz is also used to make the unique "sparkling Shiraz", a deep-red sparkling wine which also ages well. There is also a small amount of rosé wine produced from the Syrah grape. Before the popularity of Australian Shiraz wine it was very often used to make port.
Taste
Wines made from Shiraz are often quite powerfully flavoured and full-bodied. The variety produces wines with a wide range of flavor notes, depending on the climate and soils where it is grown, as well as other viticultural practices chosen. Aroma characters can range from violets to berries, chocolate, espresso and black pepper. No one aroma can be called "typical" though blackberry and pepper are often noticed. With time in the bottle these "primary" notes are moderated and then supplemented with earthy or savory "tertiary" notes such as leather and truffle. ("Secondary" flavor and aroma notes are those associated with winemakers' practices, such as oak barrel and yeast regimes, and are not typically associated with specific grape varieties.)
Australian Shiraz
Today it is Australia's most popular red grape, but Shiraz has not always been in favor in Australia; in the 1970s white wine was so popular growers were ripping out unprofitable Shiraz vineyards, even those with very old vines. Many factors, including the French paradox and the affinity of influential wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. for the lush, powerful wines produced from Shiraz caused a turnaround in demand, and plantings expanded dramatically through the 1980s and 1990s; a similar trajectory occurred in California.
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