13 Facts About Syrah

1.

In hot climates, Syrah is more consistently full-bodied with softer tannin, jammier fruit and spice notes of licorice, anise and earthy leather.

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2.

In many regions the acidity and tannin levels of Syrah allow the wines produced to have favorable aging potential.

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3.

Syrah has a long documented history in the Rhone region of southeastern France, but it was not known if it had originated in that region.

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4.

Wines that made Syrah famous were those from Hermitage, the hill above the town Tain-l'Hermitage in northern Rhone, where an hermitage was built on the top, and where De Sterimberg is supposed to have settled as a hermit after his crusades.

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5.

Smaller amounts of Syrah are used in the production of other wine styles, such as rose wine, fortified wine in Port wine style, and sparkling red wine.

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6.

Syrah-dominated appellations of northern Rhone have, like most other French appellations and regions, no tradition of varietal labeling of their wines.

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7.

Syrah is a variety that during the last few decades has been imported for cultivation in several countries.

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8.

Worldwide plantations of Syrah have increased considerably in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and both "Syrah"-labelled and "Shiraz"-labelled wines are on the increase.

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9.

Languedoc-Roussillon uses Syrah to produce both Southern Rhone-like blends with Grenache, Australian-style blends with Cabernet Sauvignon, and varietal Syrah.

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10.

The practise of blending Viognier with Syrah has actually been common for years in the Northern Rhone Valley region of Cote-Rotie.

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11.

Syrah makes up a significant percentage of wine produced in several Washington AVAs such as the Naches Heights AVA and the Walla Walla AVA.

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12.

Syrah was introduced into Washington state in 1986 by Red Willow Vineyard through their partnership with Woodinville, Washington-based Columbia Winery and Master of Wine David Lake.

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13.

Synonyms for Syrah include Antourenein noir, Candive, Entournerein, Hermitage, Hignin noir, Marsanne noir, Shiraz, Sira, Sirac, Sirah, Syra, and Syrac.

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