Syrah Red Wine

Syrah is often used to make a dry Red Wine, which can be either varietal or blended. Because of their concentrated flavors and the high tannin content of syrah grapes, many of the best examples of Syrah Red Wines are only at their best after a lot of bottle aging. In the greatest examples, this can be 15 years or more.  Syrah Red Wine has one of the highest recommended serving temperatures of 65 °F

Red Wine made from the Syrah grape are very often powerfully flavored and full-bodied.  The Red Wine grape variety of Syrah produces wines with a wide range of flavor notes which depends on the climate and soils where it is grown.  Aromas can range from violets to berries, espresso, chocolate and black pepper. No one aroma can be called typical of the syrah variety, although blackberry and pepper are often noticed.  As time passes in the bottle ageing process, the primary aroma notes are moderated and then supplemented with more earthy notes such as leather and truffle. These secondary flavor and aroma notes can be associated with several things, including winemakers' practices such as type of oak barrel and yeast use, or terroir qualities.

In the United States, wine produced from the grape is normally called by its French name, Syrah, although some winemakers who would rather follow in the New World traditions brand the Red Wine Shiraz. Under American wine laws either name is allowed to be used on the label. The Syrah varietal first appeared as a wine grape in California in the 1970s.  There was a group of grape growers, who called themselves the Rhone Rangers who were responsible for the majority of the plantings of Syrah.

California Syrah Red Wines, like those in France, vary a great deal based on the climate and terroir that they are grown in. In regions that have very warm days, such as parts of Napa, the Red Wine is usually blended with other Rhone varieties. Other regions, primarily the mountainous ones, tend to produce varietal Red Wines that can stand on their own.