31 Jul 2024
International Shiraz Day is celebrated around the world each year, a delightful occasion dedicated to honouring Shiraz wine. But what’s the difference between Shiraz and Syrah?
Well Shiraz refers to the New World expression, which is often intense, richer, fuller in body and alcohol and with riper aromas.
Syrah on the other hand mostly refers to the Old World, which is lighter in body and alcohol, less body and finer tannins.
Typically, this grape produces wines with medium tannins, a black pepper flavour, dark fruits with vanilla and spice notes. However, despite originally hailing from the Rhone Valley in France, this grape is now grown worldwide, expressing the different nuances of its terroir and producing wines that differ in style.
This week’s recommendations are a trio of New World Shiraz from both Australia and South Africa.
Château Tanunda Established 1890 Shiraz 2022 (£9.99 Waitrose)
The Syrah grape variety was first brought to Australia by the Scottish viticulturist James Busby and is now grown in regions like Hunter Valley and Barossa Valley, the later being where this wine is from.
Established in 1890, Chateau Tanunda is the site of some of the Barossa Valley’s first planted vines, as well as its first winery. Thanks to the passion and dedication of the Geber family, this 130-year-old Barossa estate is celebrated amongst the top winemaking estates in Australia. They’re the only Barossa winery that has European Union endorsement to use the word ‘Château’ on their labels.
Made by winemaker Neville Rowe (Top 100 Master Winemaker 2023), this is such an easy drinking Shiraz, which I enjoyed with burgers and other grilled meats straight from the BBQ on Sunday evening. This wine is oozing with rounded, juicy dark fruits, ripe cherries and blueberries, with subtle vanilla. The tannins are smooth with a lovely line of acidity and a long, lingering finish.
Robert Oakly Semaphore Series Shiraz 2021 (£10.50 exclusively from Co-op)
Robert Oakly is a very well-respected producer of Australian wines and amongst his wine ranges is the Semaphore Series, created to produce wines that reflect their surroundings.
This Shiraz, produced by expert and award-winning winemaker Larry Cherubino, is from McLaren Vale and is exclusively available at the Co-op. With 25 per cent of the wine aged in new French oak, expect dark plum, cherry and blueberry fruit flavours, accompanied by soft, ripe tannins and a lovely spice on the finish. It’s a very versatile wine that can be paired with a wide range of Mediterranean style foods.
Kleine Zalze Reserve Shiraz 2021 (£9.50 TESCO)
Kleine Zalze is an award-winning winery situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands, just two miles from Stellenbosch. Winemaking has taken place, albeit small scale, on this estate since 1965, but it was in 1996 when Kobus Basson and his family purchased the property that the modern Kleine Zalze was born. Their philosophy is a simple one: “Success begins in the vineyards”. The grapes for this wine were sourced from selected parcels of fruit from across the Western Cape and after fermentation, the wine was transferred into 300L French oak barrels, where it continued to age for an additional 12 months. The result is an elegant wine that is packed with flavour, both on the nose and palate. Aromas of white pepper and juicy black berries are beautifully balanced with a hint of violets on the palate. The generous mouthfeel is underpinned by well-integrated oak, leading to a fresh and lingering finish. This wine is great with red meats, crusted lamb or even a dish with spice.
