Syrah

Introduction: Syrah / Shiraz

The Syrah wine is, of course, just one of the many excellent Valais red wines that we offer. In our online shop, you will also find a wide selection of white wines, rosé wines, sparkling wines and digestifs.

If you are looking for a gift, we recommend, for example, the various tasting boxes from our gift service or a gift voucher that allows the recipient to choose freely from our online shop.

The most important facts about the Syrah grape variety at a glance

Syrah and Shiraz are two names for the same grape variety. Syrah is the French name, while overseas it is usually called Shiraz. Wines made from the Syrah grape can produce very soft, fruity wines. However, there are also extremely concentrated Syrah/Shiraz wines that can develop complex tertiary aromas of chocolate, meaty notes, dried fruit, leather and forest floor over time in the bottle. Balsamia is mentioned in the context of the Syrah grape because it is grown in various regions such as the French Rhone Valley, South Africa, Australia, the United States and Canada.

• France and Australia are known as the main growing areas for Syrah/Shiraz wine. In France alone, about 36% of the world's 185,000 hectares of vineyards are used for this grape variety.
• In the New World, mainly in South Africa, Australia, the United States and Canada, the labels of these reds bear the name Shiraz because the wines in these warm growing areas typically have a full body and high alcohol content, with ripe aromas of cooked black fruits and liquorice. 
• Syrah reds grown in the temperate climate of France's northern Rhône region tend to be medium-bodied with aromas of fresh black fruits such as black cherry and blackberry, as well as herbal notes and black pepper flavours.
  

Origin, Origins & Meaning of Syrah Wines

The Syrah / Shiraz red wine variety is said to originate from Persia. The Syrah / Shiraz grape variety is a cross between the Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche varieties, which was originally cultivated mainly in the French Rhone Valley.

The Dureza grape variety originally comes from the northern part of the French department of Ardèche, which is located on the right bank of the Rhône River. From there, the grape variety spread mainly into the valleys of the Drôme and Isère. Today it is almost extinct. Mondeuse Blanche is a traditional grape variety from Savoy and is now cultivated on a few hectares of land in the AOC areas of Vin de Savoie and in the VDQS area of Vin du Bugey.

Syrah is the only dark grape variety authorised for AOC wines in the Rhône Valley in France. The river valley is very narrow in the northern Rhône region, and the best sites are located on steep slopes. This makes cultivating the vineyards very labour-intensive. The best-known vineyards along the Rhône are the AOC Côte Rôtie and the high-class AOC Hermitage. In the north, winemakers press single-varietal wines, while in the south, assemblages – also known as cuvées – made from several varieties, especially with the Grenache grape, are the norm.

In Australia, the Shiraz grape variety is the most commonly grown. A large proportion of the vineyards are located in the warm regions inland, where the grapes are bottled mainly for low-priced mass-market brands. Some of the oldest Shiraz vines in the world are found in the warm Barossa Valley region of South Australia. They produce correspondingly low yields of very concentrated fruit. In New South Wales, in the Hunter Valley region,

Syrah is cultivated in the Valais

The Syrah red wine variety was introduced to the Valais region of Switzerland in 1926. It is considered a traditional grape variety here, to which the designation Grand Cru is reserved.

In Valais viticulture, the Syrah variety is mostly vinified on exposed hillsides. Since its introduction, it has experienced a growing boom. While it is undemanding in terms of the care required in Valais vineyards, the vinification process demands a great deal from the cellar master, even more so than the vinification of Cabernet Sauvignon, if the wine is to turn out not only good but great. It requires a great deal of attention during the long, cool fermentation and a careful, and also quite long, ageing process in oak barrels.

The importance of Syrah: a globally popular grape variety

With 185,000 hectares under cultivation, Syrah/Shiraz is among the top 10 most popular grape varieties in the world and ranks fourth among the most widely grown red wine grape varieties worldwide, after the front-runner Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Merlot and Tempranillo.

In Switzerland, Syrah grapes are grown on around 200 hectares of vineyards. And yet, according to the most renowned wine critics, today's Syrah from the Valais region can hold its own with even the greatest international Syrah/Shiraz wines. This is impressively demonstrated by the title of one of the three best Syrah wines in the world, awarded to the Syrah Diego Mathier AOC Valais, whose label features the winemaker's nose. In the South Tyrol/Trentino regions and in the famous wine-growing areas of the New World, the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Barbara and Barossa Valley, the Syrah grape variety shows its versatile adaptability and underlines the importance of geographical location and relationships for the quality of the wine.

Characteristics of the Syrah grape: growth, maturity and yield

The small, deep black-blue, tannin-rich and sweet berries produce great, very concentrated and noble wines in the best locations, which develop their characteristic bouquet of raspberries and violets only after several years of maturation. Powerful and elegant, Syrah wines have a shelf life of five to ten years.

The shoot tip of this variety is green and heavily covered with white hairs. The buds of the vines, with their strong, upright growth habit, usually sprout late. This makes the grape variety relatively insensitive to frost. The grapes of this red wine are also largely immune to disease.

The leaves are medium-sized, pentagonal, slightly blistered, with five lobes and slightly notched. The leaf margin is slightly notched and the stalk bay has a V-shaped form. The grapes are medium-sized, medium-dense and cylindrical in shape, often with one to three medium-sized secondary bunches. The berries are small and have thick skin. They are elongated, blue-black in colour, highly aromatic and have soft, juicy flesh.

The grape yield is medium to high. To achieve good ripening of the grapes, it is necessary to regulate the yield. If the weather is unfavourable, for example if there is insufficient sunshine, the grapes ripen poorly, which leads to both lower yields and an unpleasant taste due to the high tannin content, often described as green and unripe. If there is a lot of sunshine during the ripening period, the variety can go from ripe to overripe very quickly, causing it to lose acidity and its fruity aroma.

Flavour profile of Syrah / Shiraz: aromas, tannins and acidity

The grape variety produces a spicy, elegant and deeply coloured wine with a lot of acidity and tannin. This wine is known to be supported by racy tannins. Syrah reds are usually medium to full-bodied.

The primary, secondary and tertiary aromas of Syrah wines

The primary aromas in this wine are dominated by black cherries, blackberries and pepper (compared to plums in Merlot and red cherries in Pinot Noir). Among the secondary aromas, you will often find vanilla, coconut, smoke and coffee, as well as occasional chocolate.

As the wine matures in the bottle, the flavour profile of this wine can be completed with aromas such as meaty notes, dried fruit, leather or a hint of forest floor.

What are the synonyms for Syrah / Shiraz?

There are almost 100 different names for the Syrah Shiraz grape variety. These testify to its widespread origin worldwide. Antournerein, Antournerein Noir, Antournerin, Anzher Muskatnyi, Arnitas, Balsamina, Biaune, Biaune Noir, Bione, Blaue Schiraz, Blaue Serine, Blaue Sirah, Blauer Syrah, Bragiola, Candive, Candive Noir, Caudive, Ciras, Costigliola, Costiola, Damas Noir du Puy de Dome, Damasz er Blau, di Santi, Entourneirein, Entournerein, Entournerin, Ermitage, Fresa Grossa, Hermitage, Hignin, Hignin Noir, Marsanne Noir, Marsanne Noire, Marzane Noir, Neiret di Saluzzo, Neiretta Cunese, Neiretta del Cuneese - Fassanese, Neiretta del Monregalese, Neiretta del Rosso, Neiretta dell'Albese, Neiretta di Saluzzo, Neiretto del Cuneese, Neiretto di Bene, Neiretto di Carru, Neiretto di Costigliole, Neiretto di Farigliano, Neiretto di Saluzzo, Nereta Piccola di Monre Galese, Neretta Cuneese, Neretta del Cuneese-F assanese, Neretta del Monregalese, Neretta di Costigliole, Neretta di Saluzzo, Neretta Piccola, Neretta Piccola di Dogliani, Neretto del Beinale, Neretto di Dogliani, Neretto di Saluzzo, Petite Chiras, Petite Sirah, Petite Sirrah, Petite Syrah, Petite Syras, Plan de la Biaune, Plant de Biaune, Plant de la Bianne, Plant de la Biaune, Schiras, Schiraz, Scyras, Seraene, Sereine, Serene, Serenne, Serine, Serine Noir, Serine Noire, Serinne, Sevene, Shiras, Shiraz, Shyrac, Sira, Sirac, Sirah, Sirah de l'Ermitage, Sirah dell'Ermitaggio, Siriaca, Sirica, Sirrah, Syra , Syrac, Syrac de l'Ermitage, Syracuse, Syrah Crni, Zagarese, Zizak

Syrah and food – our recommendations

You don't need luck to pair Syrah red wine with the right food. This red wine goes particularly well with dishes such as pasta with meat or fruity tomato sauce. Syrah red wines also go very well with meat pies or risotto with mushrooms and herbs.

If the food is salty, it is advisable to choose a red wine with less tannins. The Syrah Diego is a perfect accompaniment to lamb and beef dishes, but also to game and cheese dishes.

Our Syrah red wine recommendations

Syrah Diego Mathier AOC Valais – the award-winning solitaire

The Syrah Diego Mathier is cultivated on sun-drenched, hot terraced vineyards in Conthey and near the town of Sierre.

After the harvest, the fermentation is carried out in Vinimatic tanks to achieve optimal temperature control. A Vinimatic is a closed fermentation tank with rotating blades that are cooled with water from the outside. These tanks are used to maximise the extraction of the valuable grape juice during maceration.

After fermentation, the Syrah Diego Mathier is aged for 15 months in new barrels before being bottled. The Syrah produces a powerful, very colourful wine with black-red reflections. When enjoyed young, it is wild and tart.

Over the years, it develops a spicy bouquet of violets and mignonette, which over time transforms into pepper and game aromas. At its peak of maturity, it develops a harmonious taste that is simply divine. Diego says his wine has the same presence as he does: ‘broad shoulders, an Adonis body and a long finish.’

Syrah Hospices AOC Valais – short maceration to preserve the fruit

The Syrah Hospices is grown in Conthey in the humus-rich soil of a former marshland. Short maceration on the skins preserves the highly-prized fruit in these red wines. Tannins are only slightly dissolved. It is then traditionally vinified in stainless steel tanks. The Syrah Hospices presents itself in a ruby red robe with violet highlights.

The bouquet is reminiscent of dark berries and there is a hint of pepper on the nose. It is full-bodied on the palate with an impressive maturity. The long finish is supported by silky tannins. It is very well balanced, even immediately after bottling, but it also has the potential to age well in the bottle. The slender, tall bottle may be deceiving – the Hospices line is always a half-litre in 7dl quality.

Syrah Les Pyramides – Dynasty of the Pyramids

In 1995, Diego Mathier created a new line of wines with the ‘Pinot Noir Les Pyramides’. The name is inspired by the pyramids of Salgesch, halfway along the vineyard trail to Siders. The Raspille mountain stream rushes at the foot of these pyramids. It marks the language boundary between Upper and Lower Valais. These bizarre pyramids were formed by erosion over thousands of years. This magnificent backdrop inspired Diego Mathier to create the labels for this range, ‘Les Pyramides’. Since 2007, the range has included the red wines Cornalin, Humagne Rouge and Syrah, as well as the white wines Petite Arvine, Amigne, Heida, Humagne Blanc and Viognier.

Interesting facts about Syrah red wines

What do Shiraz wines taste like?

The Syrah wines we receive tend to be light, elegant and spicy. They have subtle woody notes and typical flavours such as cloves, cinnamon, pepper, earth and leather. The alcohol content is rather moderate.

What is the difference between Shiraz and Syrah?

In the USA, Africa and Australia, the grape variety is known as Shiraz, but it is the same wine. Syrah wines can be enjoyed as a single-varietal wine or as a cuvée. Winemakers often combine some Syrah with Cabernet Sauvignon or Garnacha.

Where is Syrah grown?

• Most important Syrah growing areas: France, Australia, Spain
• Most famous regions: Rhône, Barossa Valley
• Flavour: almost always dry
• Significance in Germany: small areas in Baden and Württemberg
• Alcohol content: strong, usually between 13 and 15%

How do you pronounce Syrah?

Sy·rah, plural: Sy·rahs.