from Blackberries to Leather
Did you know that it is Shiraz Day on Thursday 28 July? Just don't confuse it with International Syrah Day, celebrated in February. Here are some facts about Shiraz and what distinguishes it from Syrah.
Australia has been growing Shiraz for nearly 200 years, with the red wine variety sitting proudly in their top spot for most produced wine. However, the wine-loving country down under waited until 2020 to establish a formal #ShirazWineDay.
Shiraz Day centres around the fruit-forward New World style that Australia is known for, from regions like Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. It's held in the middle of Australia's winter when a glass of Shiraz is just what will keep you warm on a chilly evening.
Though they are both made using the same grape, the main difference between "Syrah" and "Shiraz" is the style of wine.
The former refers to a more restrained, elegant red wine, typically known as the Old World style and often produced in a cooler climate, whereas the latter refers to a punchier, bolder wine.
This is known as the New World style, which is easier to achieve in a warmer climate. The fruit is riper when picked, resulting in more fruit-forward flavours and higher alcohol content.
Typically characteristics of Shiraz include blackberry, plum, or dark chocolate, supported by savoury characters like white pepper, leather, mushrooms, or earth.
With a thick-skinned grape, young iterations of this wine can be very tannic. As a result, this variety benefits from being served at the right temperature (16C / 61F) and being vigorously decanted when young. These thick skins also mean it's an excellent wine for cellaring!
Did you know? The Shiraz shapes are our portfolio's most versatile red wine glasses, suitable for the broadest range of varietals.
RIEDEL offers two key shapes for Shiraz drinkers:
Browse glasses for Shiraz below!
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