Nov 01 2006 08:17 am
Posted by DaisyWine under Wine Articles
You say Shiraz, I say Syrah
You say Shiraz, I say Syrah. Are we talking about the same thing?
The answer is yes, Shiraz and Syrah are two different names for the same grape. Syrah is the name associated with the grape grown in France. Shiraz is the same grape primarily grown in Australia.
The most straightforward explanation would be that it is simply a difference in translation. However, a bottle of French Syrah doesn’t taste the same as an Australian Shiraz, indicating that it is more then a naming convention. Before explaining this in detail, lets expand on a basic wine concept of Old World vs. New World Wines. This terminology distinction gives us a glimpse into wine’s history and therefore a stronger understanding that will guide us when trying to choose a wine we’ve never tasted.
Old world is a term used to describe wines, primarily from Europe, that have been made for thousands of years. New world is the term to describe wines made in more modern wine making countries, such as the U.S. and Australia. Although today these wines are becoming more and more like each other due to modern technologies, there are still a handful of distinct differences apparent when enjoying them. Let’s further explore the differentiation between the two terms.
The nose and taste of Old World Wines indicate the geographical environment (terroir) in which the grapes were grown. The terroir focus is an important part of the classification for these wines. European wines are heavily regulated by the government, to achieve a high level of classification they must prove the land is capable of producing high quality grapes. As a result, the grapes’ environment intricately shows through in the wine.
Another key trait of Old World Wines is that that they are intentionally made for food pairing. Until the 1600s (when hot chocolate and tea came into popularity in Europe) drink options were limited to water, beer, or wine. Considering that the water quality wasn’t always pure, most people chose one of the later two, thus making wine a more utilitarian drink. Many kings demanded their drinks with their favorite foods, so most Old World Wines are more enjoyable with the proper food.
In contrast, New World Wines can be enjoyed on their own because they are not created as a needed beverage, or to purposefully match a regional food. Instead they are for more recreational purposes and are highly enjoyable by themselves. These wines tend to have strong fruit scents and tastes, which are referred to as “fruit forward”. New World Wines have more leeway to explore new wine making options, because Old World Wines are primarily bound by laws and regulations. Due to this, many characterize them as being bolder then the subtleness of Old World wines.
With that brief overview of the New vs. Old World terminology, let’s get back to the Syrah vs. Shiraz distinction. Since Syrah is more often associated with the Old World French wines, the name is an indication that it will have more Old World characteristics, such as the terroir driven and essential food pairings. Since Shiraz is associated with the New World Australian wines the name is an indication that the wine will have 
more New World characteristics, such as fruitiness and drink ability without food.
Want to try this for yourself? Try the below wines to taste the differences. Try them alone, then with food. Syrah is most often paired with a beef or wild game dish. I recommend trying it with a simple rump roast.
Shiraz – Wolf Blass, Yellow Label, Shiraz Price: $11
Syrah – Petit Rousse – A Californian Syrah that displays Old World characters Price $17 (easy to find at the liquor store, it has pink labeling)
Want to spend a little more money and try a true French Syrah? Try any Syrah from the Hermitage area in the Northern Rhone Valley.
Authors note: To make matters slightly more confusing, American wines don’t have regulations for labeling a wine Syrah versus Shiraz. This means that an American wine labeled Syrah, can (and probably will) still exhibit New World characters.