Shiraz - wine grape variety

This variety comes from the Hermitage area of the Rhone Valley in France where it is known as Syrah. One tradition suggests that it was brought to Hermitage from Shiraz in Iran by the hermits, another that it was brought from Syracuse by the Roman legions, but it seems quite likely that it originated in the Rhone Valley. It is sometimes called Hermitage in Australia, but should not be confused with the Hermitage of South Africa which is really Cinsaut. The Petite Sirah of California is also a different variety, Durif, which comes from the same part of France where it has occasionally been incorrectly called Petite Syrah. There has been a dramatic increase in the area planted to Syrah in France, from 2700 ha in 1968 to 27 000 ha in 1988, mainly to add character to wines based on Grenache or Carignan. There were just over 6000 ha of Shiraz in Australia in 1992. A little is grown in Tuscany in Italy and over 1000 ha in Argentina. There are about 500 ha of true Shiraz in South Africa.

Shiraz is a vigorous variety with a spreading habit of growth. It has medium, 5-lobed leaves, somewhat rough and undulating, with tufted hairs on the lower surface. The bunches are characteristically long and cylindrical with long stalks, rather loose, with small to medium oval berries which tend to wilt as soon as they are ripe, becoming more difficult to harvest mechanically.

In Australia, Shiraz has proved to be a very versatile variety. It is grown in all viticultural areas and used for all types of red wines. It is sometimes used alone but is often blended with other red varieties.