Syrah

Syrah is a dark-skinned red grape originating in the northern Rhône and now cultivated widely across warm to moderate climates, from France and Australia to South Africa, Chile, and California. The vine shows moderate vigor, producing small, thick-skinned berries in compact clusters that contribute to its naturally deep color and firm tannin structure. Syrah thrives in well-drained, rocky soils—particularly granite, schist, and limestone—and performs best in sites with ample sunlight and significant diurnal variation, which help maintain acidity and enhance aromatic complexity. While adaptable, the variety can be sensitive to excessive heat or drought, which may reduce freshness and aromatic definition.

Syrah wines are typically deeply colored and full-bodied, with moderate to high acidity and a distinctive aromatic range that can include blackberry, black cherry, violet, pepper, smoked meat, and olive. In cooler climates like the northern Rhône, it produces structured, savory, pepper-driven wines with pronounced tension, while in warmer regions such as Australia’s Barossa Valley, it yields richer, more opulent styles often labeled as Shiraz. Its combination of concentration, aromatic intensity, and versatility makes Syrah one of the world’s most respected and expressive red varieties.