Syrah

Syrah is a bold, dry red grape best known from France’s Rhône Valley, producing wines packed with blackberry, blueberry and plum alongside its signature black pepper, herbs and savoury spice. Full-bodied and structured, it’s brilliant with steak, roast beef, lamb, BBQ ribs, burgers, sausages and slow-cooked meat.

Taste:

Dark fruit and black pepper are the headline act here.

Syrah is typically dry and medium to full-bodied, with moderate to firm tannins and plenty of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and plum. Black pepper is one of its most recognisable flavours, often joined by violet, herbs, liquorice, olive and savoury spice.

Cooler-climate Syrah tends to be fresher, pepperier and more savoury, while warmer regions can produce riper, richer fruit. Oak ageing may add vanilla, smoke, cedar or chocolate, while mature bottles can develop leather, tobacco and earthy flavours.

It's bold, complex and a little bit moody. In a good way.

Food Pairings:

Syrah's combination of dark fruit, pepper and savoury flavours makes it brilliant with rich meat and anything that's spent some quality time near a grill.

Try it with steak, ribeye, sirloin, roast beef, beef short ribs, beef stew, slow-cooked beef or brisket.

Lamb is another classic pairing. Roast lamb, lamb chops, lamb shank and lamb kebabs all work beautifully, particularly with rosemary, thyme, garlic or black pepper.

For BBQ food, pair Syrah with BBQ ribs, burgers, grilled steak, smoky sausages, pulled pork or barbecued lamb.

Its peppery character also makes it a great partner for peppercorn steak, sausages, meatballs and herb-heavy Mediterranean dishes.

For meat-free options, try mushroom stew, mushroom pie, grilled aubergine, lentil casserole or smoky roasted vegetables.

Mature Cheddar, Gouda and other hard, strongly flavoured cheeses can handle it too.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Syrah, Shiraz is the obvious wine to try next. It's the same grape, but the name Shiraz is particularly associated with the richer, riper styles made famous by Australia.

Mourvèdre is worth exploring if you enjoy dark fruit, herbs and savoury flavours, while Malbec offers plenty of blackberry and plum with a softer personality.

Syrah also plays an important role in Rhône blends such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras.

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More About Syrah:

Syrah is most famously associated with France's Rhône Valley, particularly the northern Rhône, where it is responsible for some of the region's most celebrated red wines.

DNA research has traced Syrah's origins to southeastern France, where it developed from a natural crossing of two older grape varieties.

Outside France, Syrah has travelled extremely well. You'll find it across Australia, South Africa, the United States, Chile and many other wine-producing countries.

And yes, Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. The different names often hint at stylistic differences rather than different varieties.

Same DNA. Different wardrobe.