What is Syrah / Shiraz?
Syrah / Shiraz is a red wine style best understood through its balance of fruit, freshness, body, tannin, sweetness and texture. Peppery, dark-fruited red with savoury spice and medium-to-firm tannins. Great with grilled meat, pepper, smoke, sausages and rich stews. Typical flavours include blackberry, black pepper, olive, smoke.
Northern Rhône, Barossa, South Africa
Syrah, Shiraz
Spicy Red · 13.5-15.5%
Style profile
Grapes, regions and character
Syrah / Shiraz is commonly associated with Syrah, Shiraz. The grape choice shapes the wine’s aroma, structure, acidity, body and food-pairing personality. Classic regions include Northern Rhône, Barossa, South Africa.
Northern Rhône, Barossa, South Africa
France; Australia; South Africa
What does Syrah / Shiraz pair well with?
Pair Syrah / Shiraz by matching the wine’s weight, acidity, sweetness and tannin to the dish. It works especially well with grilled meat, sausages, peppery stews, barbecue, game. It is usually less successful with light salads or delicate shellfish.
Best food matches
Pairings to avoid
What makes a good or bad Syrah / Shiraz?
A good Syrah / Shiraz should taste balanced, expressive and clean. Look for clear fruit, freshness, structure and a finish that suits the style. The acidity is usually medium, so the wine should feel lively without becoming harsh. The body is usually full, so it should match the weight expected from this style.
A poor Syrah / Shiraz can taste flat, tired, harsh, thin, overly sweet, too alcoholic or unbalanced. Avoid bottles where oak, bitterness, heat or sweetness dominate the fruit, freshness and structure.
When buying Syrah / Shiraz, look for bottles where the region, grape and producer style match the food you want to cook. Useful countries to look at include France; Australia; South Africa.
Serve Syrah / Shiraz at around 16-18°C. Serving temperature matters because too warm can make wine feel heavy, while too cold can mute flavour.
