Stage 2
Grape Varieties
Syrah/Shiraz and Grenache
Syrah/Shiraz
The home of this grape variety is the Northern Rhone and it is also an important variety in the Southern Rhone. This grape variety will not ripen in a cool climate and therefore it is not seen in any of the more northerly wine regions of France. The grape is quite small with thick dark skins and produces deeply coloured wines with medium to high tannin and acidity levels. It produces wines that are usually full bodied with black fruit characteristics.
- Moderate climate - such as that of the Northern Rhône will produce wines with hints of mint, smoked meat, game, spice and black pepper.
- Hot Climate - such as the Barrossa Valley in Australia produce wines with a sweet spice, liquorice, and cloves.
With age these wines will develop animal and vegetal complexities, leather, wet leaves, earthiness. Oak is often used and will give toast, smoke, vanilla and coconut.
Grenache
This grape variety originated in Spain where it is called Garnacha. It has large berries with thin skins, high sugar level and low acidity. The wines are seldom deep in colour but because of the high sugar content are usually high in alcohol and are very full bodied because of this.
- Hot Climate - This grape needs a hot climate such as the Southern Rhone and parts of Australia in order to ripen fully. It produces wines with flavours of red fruit such as strawberries, raspberries and with hints of white pepper, liquorice and cloves. With age the spice can turn into toffee and leather.
In the Southern Rhône, the South of France and Spain Grenache is often used to make rosé wines of varying styles. Some are full bodied, and dry with red fruit flavours and others are light bodied with medium sweetness. It is rare to find a rosé wine that is suitable for ageing as with age the wine will turn orange and the fruit dulls and adds savoury notes.
Blends - Syrah/Shiraz & Grenache
Syrah does not need Grenache to make a good wine as there are excellent Syrah wines made in Northern Rhône, the Barrossa Valley and elsewhere in the world. However, Grenache blended with Syrah are ideal partners because:
- Syrah boosts the levels of colour, tannin and acidity and adds dark fruit flavours
- Grenache adds alcohol, lowers levels of tannin and acidity and adds red fruit character and spice to the blend