This wine grape puts a smile on my face with every sip. It’s full of fruit and spice, and packed with lots of personality.

Shiraz is the workhorse grape of Australia in the New World, and in the Old World, it’s Syrah—same grape, just a different name.

The grape was taken from France to Australia in the early 1800s and given the name Shiraz in honor of the city from which it originated. Shiraz from Australia can be more fruit-driven and expresses notes of blackberry jam, vanilla bean, baked earth, smoke and chocolate.

The Syrah from France is all about herb and spice and can reflect notes of black pepper, rosemary, lavender and wild game.

Here are a couple of selections that we offer here at Nino’s.

Oliverhill Red Silk Shiraz-Australia

A delicious wine and definitely one of my favorites, its nose is filled with blackberry and pepper, ending with coffee and chocolate on the palate. Yummy!

Charles Smith Boom Boom Syrah-Columbia Valley, Washington

To me, this wine is filled with juicy fruit flavors of blackberry and boysenberry, ending with white pepper and savory herbs and spices. It’s a fine wine to accompany a big, juicy steak off the grill.

Domaine De La Bastide Rouge Figue-Cote Du Rhone, France

A bright fruit sunshine red made with 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache and 20% Carignan. This wine has mild spice flavors of rosemary, thyme and pepper and finishes with a touch of lavender and musk. It pairs perfectly with roasted chicken, pork belly or pizza.

I hope you found this helpful!

Cheers,

Simone