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.