Shiraz or Syrah
as it is more commonly known outside Australia traces its "roots" back
to France's Rhone Valley (particularly the North) where it is the noble
variety behind the great wines of Cote-Rotie, Hermitage,
Crozes-Hermitage, St Joseph and Cornas.
In the New World,
Australia has led the variety to world-wide popularity via the
richer and alcoholic styles of the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale
regions of South Australia.
In more recent times other regions within
Australia including cooler areas in Victoria,Western Australia and Canberra have
given new prominence to a more textured and spicy version more reminiscent of
the wines of the Rhone. In New Zealand and the USA the variety is also made with
increasing success in the more savoury, Syrah-like style.