Syrah

• Grape

Intersection of Mondeuze Blanche × Dureza

Syrah ( Shiraz or even Balsamia ) is a not very profitable, but high quality red grape variety that was originally cultivated primarily in the Rhone Valley in France. In South Africa, Australia, the USA and Canada is called the variety Shiraz. The vine has attained such high importance and is so popular that they aufrückte in the nobility of the wine world and is called a noble vine.

Characteristics

Syrah wines usually have a strong blackcurrant flavor. The vine yields at normal maceration a dark colored wine with high tannin content, the need to reduce astringency of a long bottle aging (see also the article phenols in wine).

Origin

Based on DNA analyzes of the University of California at Davis in 1998 was clearly demonstrated that Syrah is a hybrid of the old French varieties Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche and therefore probably originates from the valley of the Rhone.

Ethnicity: Dureza x Mondeuse Blanche

According to a study of two geneticists, José Vouillamoz and Stella Grando at the Research IASMA in San Michele all'Adige in Italy, the Syrah is related to other Central European grape varieties, most likely even a great-grandson of Pinot Noir. Additional relationships exist on the other side of the Alps, namely in the region of South Tyrol / Trentino with its varieties Lagrein, Marzemino and Teroldego. According to the two researchers, it is, however, hardly be possible ever to reconstruct the family tree of European grape varieties complete, since many of them have become extinct.

Cultivation

Because the Syrah casts out late, he is quite insensitive to late frosts. However, cold, wet weather during flowering leads to sensitive yield losses. Normally its small-berried, but abundant grapes lead to satisfactory yields. But problem is ripening behavior. In case of bad weather (not enough sun) he does not ripen from all over; this results because of the extraordinarily high Tanningehaltes a little pleasing taste that is often described as green, immature or charmless. In full sun the maturity time it tilts very quickly from the maturity to over-maturity, loses its acidity and rich fruity flavor.

This explains that the Syrah ( with perfect maturity for wine connoisseurs one of the greatest wines in the world ) was regarded as so problematic that his vines declined in France in the meantime only 3,000 ha. The now attainable prices however, have led to an increase again to more than 50,000 ha. Worldwide approximately 145,000 hectares of vineyards are planted with the variety.

Growing areas

France

With 69 891 ha (2007), Syrah is one of the most important red varieties France. The vine needs hot, dry climate and is grown in the Rhone Valley in particular. It is a component of many blended wines in the South of France. In the northern Rhone Valley appellations ( Côte- Rôtie, Saint -Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes -Hermitage and Cornas ) it is even the only allowed red grape. In Languedoc, one of the largest contiguous wine regions in the world, it flows along with Carignan, Grenache and Mourvedre in the blends.

Your growing area extends westward as far as Gaillac. There are also blends together with the Bordeaux varietals are possible. It matures there way later than the Merlot, but earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon.

Australia

An equally important growing area - with good 43 418 ha (2007) now on a par with France - is Australia, where the grape is called Shiraz. There she was introduced in 1830 and has long been widespread than in metropolitan France ( where at times only 3,000 ha were planted ). Today, she brings the highest qualities. Traditionally, the Shiraz is there blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, but there are varietal wines from top vineyards with over 15% alcohol. Famous representatives of Penfolds Grange of, and the Amon Ra by Ben Glaetzer.

See also the article viticulture in Australia.

Other

Other areas are California (about 7,306 ha in 2007), Mexico ( 1,700 ha), South Africa ( 9,856 ha in 2007), Chile ( 3,370 acres, 2006) and Argentina (approx. 11,670 ha, 2005); in Italy it is grown in Sicily and in tiny amounts in Tuscany. In Switzerland, mainly in Valais approximately 179 hectares with Syrah (2007, source: Federal Office for Agriculture BLW ). In 2008, the area under vines was in New Zealand at still rising at 278 hectares. For comparison: in 2007, the vineyard was still at 257 acres. Also in Germany Syrah is grown in small quantities, some with considerable success since the 1990s. In 2012 there were, according to the Federal Statistical Office 46 acres. The number of producers is likely to currently about 100 are with a focus in the Palatinate, Württemberg, Baden and Rheinhessen.

Demarcation

The Petite Sirah grape variety that is grown in California, is not Syrah, but a cross between Syrah and Peloursin and thus identical to the Durif variety.

Synonyms

Given the popularity of the list of synonyms is extensive. Syrah is also blue under the name Antournerein, Antournerein noir, Anzher Muskatnyi, Biaune, Blue Syrah, Bragiola, Candive, Candive noir, Costigliola, Costiola, Damas noir du Puy de Dôme, Damascus, Di Santi, Entourneirein, Entournerein, Entournerin, Ermitage, Fresa grossa, Hignin noir, Marsanne noir, 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 Cunese, Neiretto di Bene, Neiretto di CARRÙ, Neiretto di Costigliole, Neiretto di Farigliano, Neiretto di Saluzzo, Nereta piccola di Monregalese, Neretta Cuneese, Neretta del Cuneese - Fassanese, Neretta del Monregalese, Neretta di Costigliole, Neretta di Saluzzo, Neretta piccola, Neretta piccola di Dogliani, Neretto del Beinale, Neretto Dogliani, Neretto di Saluzzo, Petite Sirah (erroneously ), Petite Sirrah, Petite Syrah, Petite Syras, plan de la Biaune, Plant de Biaune, Plant de la Bianne, Plant de la Biaune, Shiraz, Shiraz, Seraene, Sereine, Serene, Serenne, Serine, Serine noir, Serinne, Sevene, Shiras, Shiraz, Shyrac, Sirac, Sirah, Sirah mars anne noir, Syra, Syrac, Syrac de l' Ermitage and Zizak known.