Are there in fact two names for this grape? While we can blame the Australians for the dual identity they prefer to use the name Shiraz (She-RAHZ) instead of Syrah for this noble French grape  you also have to give them credit for bringing the grape back from relative obscurity in the 1980s. Whatever it is called, thanks to the Australians Syrah is probably the hottest wine grape on the market today.

Heady and aromatic, Syrah is drinkable young (especially the Aussie versions), but its ample acidity and firm tannins help it age for decades. Syrah can also reflect the terroir  of the region. This is as true in the Rhône Syrah’s ancestral home  as it is in Australia. The choice of name (Syrah or Shiraz) forms the dividing line between the styles: Syrah is deep, austere, earthy and spicy, while Shiraz is richer, sweeter and more intense. Again, not the lightest wine in the glass, the bigger versions need time to come around.