What Is Syrah Wine – And How Is It Different from Shiraz?

Originating in the Rhône Valley of southern France, Syrah is the original name of the grape. It produces wines that are savoury, structured and elegant, often with flavours of dark berries, cracked pepper, herbs and a hint of smokiness.

When this grape made its way to Australia in the 1830s, winemakers noticed it thrived in the warmer climate and took on a riper, more fruit-forward character. They gave it a new name: Shiraz.

The different style of the wine:

• Syrah is typically used for cooler-climate, Old World-inspired wines. These tend to be restrained, savoury, and built for ageing.
  
  
• Shiraz is more common in warm-climate regions, producing wines that are lush, rich, and bursting with ripe fruit and spice.

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Climate has a huge impact on the flavour and structure of Syrah/Shiraz wines.

• Cool Climate (Syrah) – Regions like France’s northern Rhône, Victoria’s Yarra Valley, or coastal parts of WA (Margaret River) yield Syrah with higher acidity, firmer tannins, and more subtle, savoury flavours: blackberry, plum, pepper, olives, violets, and smoked meat.
  
  
• Warm Climate (Shiraz) – In places like the Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale, Shiraz is typically fuller-bodied with softer tannins and flavours of ripe berries, chocolate, liquorice, vanilla, and sweet spice.