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82-427: The wines are red, made with Syrah grapes and up to 20% Viognier , a white grape used for its aroma . According to appellation rules, Syrah and Viognier (if used) must be fermented at the same time, a process known as cofermentation . Because of this combination, Côte-Rôtie wine typically exhibits an almost paradoxical pairing of meat aromas (including bacon) and floral aromas. The Côte-Rôtie, and more generally

164-461: A hermit after his crusades. Hermitage wines have for centuries had a reputation for being powerful and excellent. While Hermitage was quite famous in the 18th and 19th centuries, and attracted interest from foreign oenophiles , such as Bordeaux enthusiast Thomas Jefferson , it lost ground and foreign attention in the first half of the 20th century. In the 18th and the first half of the 19th centuries, most Hermitage wine that left France did so as

246-528: A French name, there is no evidence that it actually originated in Australia, although it was definitely the Australian usage and the Australian wines that made the use of this name popular. The wines that made Syrah famous were those from Hermitage, the hill above the town Tain-l'Hermitage in northern Rhône, where an hermitage ( chapel ) was built on the top, and where De Stérimberg is supposed to have settled as

328-503: A blending component in Bordeaux wines. In an era when " clarets " were less powerful than today, and before appellation rules, red wines from warmer regions would be used for improvement (or adulteration , depending on the point of view) of Bordeaux wines. While Spanish and Algerian wines are also known to have been used for this purpose, top Bordeaux châteaux would use Hermitage to improve their wines, especially in weaker vintages. In 1831,

410-491: A blending component with Argentina's signature dark-skinned grape Malbec to provide an "Argentinian take" on the Australian Cabernet-Shiraz blend. The Syrah grape was introduced into Australia in 1832 by James Busby , an immigrant who brought vine clippings from Europe with him, and it is almost invariably called "Shiraz". Today it is Australia's most popular red grape, but has not always been in such favour; in

492-423: A blending grape in the red wines of many countries due to its fleshy fruit mid-palate, balancing the weaknesses of other varieties and resulting in a "complete" wine. From the 1970s and even more from the 1990s, Syrah has enjoyed increased popularity, and plantings of the variety have expanded significantly in both old and new locations. In the early 2000s, it broke into the top 10 of varieties planted worldwide for

574-455: A form of dieback characterised by the leaves turning red in late summer, deep cracks developing in the stem above the graft , and the premature death of the vine. The syndrome was first observed in 1990s in the Gard and Hérault departments of Southern of France , but is now widespread. It is believed to be caused by mismatch between the rootstock and scion rather than an infection by a fungus or

656-525: A limited area in southeastern France, close to northern Rhône. Based on these findings, the researchers have concluded Syrah originated from northern Rhône. The DNA typing leaves no room for doubt in this matter, and the numerous other hypotheses of the grape's origin which have been forwarded during the years all completely lack support in the form of documentary evidence or ampelographic investigations, be it by methods of classical botany or DNA. Instead, they seem to have been based primarily or solely on

738-476: A local lord who had two very different personalities. Similarly, the wines of both regions also have different characteristics. Wines of the Côte Blonde are often more balanced , elegant and meant to be consumed earlier. Wines of the iron-rich Côte Brune contain more tannins , are full-bodied and meant to age longer in the bottle prior to being consumed. Traditionally, most Côte-Rôtie wines are blends of grapes from

820-571: A more generic icon, while still retaining the same heavy glassware. Châteauneuf-du-Pape traditionally has had thirteen grape varieties , but the 2009 version of the AOC rules changed that list to eighteen varieties, since blanc (white), rose (pink) and noir (black) versions of some grapes are now explicitly listed as separate varieties. Also in the previous version of the appellation rules, Grenache and Picpoul were associated with different pruning regulations in their noir and blanc versions, bringing

902-798: A more traditional French style. Ch%C3%A2teauneuf-du-Pape AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape ( French pronunciation: [ʃɑtonœf dy pap] ) is a French wine , an Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) located around the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhône wine region in southeastern France . It is one of the most renowned appellations of the southern part in the Rhône Valley, and its vineyards are located around Châteauneuf-du-Pape and in neighboring villages, Bédarrides , Courthézon and Sorgues , between Avignon and Orange . They cover slightly more than 3,200 hectares or 7,900 acres (32 km ) and produce over 110,000 hectolitres of wine

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984-579: A number of Australian winemakers also make a full-bodied sparkling dry Shiraz, which contains the complexity and sometimes earthy notes that are normally found in still wine. Due to their concentrated flavours and high tannin content, many premium Syrah wines are at their best after some considerable bottle aging. In exceptional cases, this may be 15 years or longer. Syrah has one of the highest recommended wine serving temperatures at 18 °C (65 °F). Wines made from Syrah are often powerfully flavoured and full-bodied. The variety produces wines with

1066-406: A total of 422,430 tonnes of Shiraz grapes for wine production. This made Shiraz the most planted variety in Australia and Australia the world's second largest Syrah/Shiraz grower, after France. Victorian regions include Heathcote, roughly 1.5 hours north of Melbourne. Cooler climate regions such as Western Australia's Margaret River produce Shiraz with marginally less alcohol content and often in

1148-489: A variety that during the last few decades has been imported for cultivation in several countries. It is primarily grown in warmer regions. Worldwide plantations of Syrah have increased considerably in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and both "Syrah"-labelled and "Shiraz"-labelled wines are on the increase. It is grown in many wine producing regions around the world, with concentrations in Australia, The Rhone Valley in France, and

1230-625: A virus. In Spain there was an increase in the area cultivated in Syrah grapes from 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) in 1990 to 19,045 hectares (47,060 acres) in 2009. It is grown primarily in Castilla-La Mancha , with lesser amounts in Aragon and Catalonia . As of 2015 it was the seventh most grown red grape in Spain, with 20,155 hectares (49,800 acres) accounting for 4% of the red grape total. The Syrah grape

1312-1087: A wide range of flavor notes, depending on the climate and soils where it is grown, as well as other viticultural practices chosen. Aroma characters can range from violets to berries (usually dark as opposed to red), chocolate, and black pepper. No one aroma can be called typical though blackberry, coffee and pepper are often noticed. With time in the bottle these primary notes are moderated and then supplemented with earthy or savory tertiary notes such as leather and truffle. Secondary flavor and aroma notes are those associated with several things, generally winemakers' practices (such as oak barrel and yeast treatment). C13- Norisoprenoids such as 7,8-dihydroionone derivatives, such as megastigmane-3,9-diol and 3-oxo-7,8-dihydro-α-ionol , are found in Shiraz leaves. The Syrah-dominated appellations (AOCs) of northern Rhône have, like most other French appellations and regions, no tradition of varietal labeling of their wines. Indeed, such practices are generally disallowed under AOC rules, and only

1394-483: A year, more wine made in this one area of the southern Rhône than in all of the northern Rhône. Châteauneuf-du-Pape literally translates to "The Pope's new castle" and, indeed, the history of this appellation is firmly entwined with papal history. In 1309, Pope Clement V , former Archbishop of Bordeaux , relocated the papacy to the town of Avignon. Clement V and subsequent "Avignon Popes" were said to be great lovers of Burgundy wines and did much to promote them during

1476-507: A year, releasing it at night, ripening the grapes faster than in the eastern part of the appellation, where the soil is mostly sand, or the south, where the soil is more gritty. The powerful mistral wind carries away the moisture, intensifying the dry climate. The characteristic terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape comes from a layer of stones called Galets roulés (" pebbles "). The rocks are typically quartzite and remnants of Alpine glaciers that have been smoothed over millennia by

1558-401: Is Sicily . Syrah, as it is known in France, is grown throughout the Rhône valley . The wines that are made from it vary greatly, even over small changes in the location of the vines. The differences in the soil quality as well as the changes in the slope of the terrain tend to produce different styles of wine. Ranging from the mineral and tannic nature of Hermitage, to fruity and perfumed in

1640-413: Is matured in an oak aging barrel , is also made by some estates. Most whites are made to be drunk young. Some white Châteauneuf-du-Pape are meant to age and tend to develop exotic aromas and scents of orange peels after 7–8 years. Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are often high in alcohol, typically 14-15.5%, and must be minimum 12.5% under the appellation rules with no chaptalization allowed. Winemaking in

1722-528: Is nearly half the yields allowed in Bordeaux . The common technique of using small barrel oak is not widely used in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape area, partly due to the fact that the principal grape Grenache is prone to oxidation in the porous wooden barrels. Instead, Grenache is vinified in large cement tanks, while the other grape varieties are made in large old barrels called foudres that do not impart

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1804-445: Is one of the few wine appellations that allow white wine grapes to be used in a blend of red wine. (The southern Rhône region Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC is another.) The region was also one of the first Rhône regions to make use of new oak barrels for aging, though the practice fell out of favor in the late 19th century following the phylloxera epidemic . Négociants revived the practice in the 1980s and today its use varies according to

1886-418: Is the largest. Châteauneuf-du-Pape can be either red or white wine, but the large majority of the wines produced are red. The appellation rules did not until recently allow production of rosé. The wines have traditionally been packaged in distinctive heavy dark wine bottles embossed with papal regalia and insignia . However, in recent times a number of producers have dropped the full papal seal in favour of

1968-460: Is the only vine training system allowed for the first four red varieties. Yields are restricted to two tons per acre . In most red Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Grenache noir is the most common variety, although some producers use a higher proportion of Mourvèdre. Grenache produces a sweet juice that can have almost a jam-like consistency when very ripe. Syrah is typically blended to provide color and spice, while Mourvèdre can add elegance and structure to

2050-581: The Department of Viticulture and Enology at University of California, Davis used DNA typing and extensive grape reference material from the viticultural research station in Montpellier , France to conclude that Syrah was the offspring of the grape varieties Dureza (father) and Mondeuse blanche (mother). Dureza, a dark-skinned grape variety from the Ardèche region in France, has all but disappeared from

2132-634: The Hawke's Bay and Waiheke in New Zealand , California and Washington . It can also be found in several Australian wine regions such as the Barossa , Heathcote , Coonawarra , Hunter Valley , Margaret River , Adelaide Hills , Clare Valley and McLaren Vale . Syrah has a long documented history in the Rhône region of southeastern France, but it was not known if it had originated in that region. A 1998 study conducted by Carole Meredith 's research group in

2214-456: The Rhône . The stone retains heat during the day and releases it at night which can have an effect of hastening the ripening of grapes. The stones can also serve as a protective layer to help retain moisture in the soil during the dry summer months. Some of the most prestigious vineyards in the area, like Château Rayas , have more traditional looking vineyards without the galets . These are most often vineyards located on south-facing slopes where

2296-606: The Rhône River near the village of Ampuis. In the Côte-Rôtie, the Rhône flows southwest for 9.7 kilometers (6.0 mi). To maximize the amount of sunshine that the vines receive (especially with the fog that often develops near the grape harvest time), vineyards will more often be planted on the south- or southeast-facing slopes along this part of the river. The Côte-Rôtie is subdivided into two main sections of varying soil compositions -

2378-419: The acidity and tannin levels of Syrah allow the wines produced to have favorable aging potential . Syrah is used as a single varietal or as a blend. Following several years of strong planting, Syrah was estimated in 2004 to be the world's 7th most grown grape at 142,600 hectares (352,000 acres). It can be found throughout the globe from France to New World wine regions such as: Chile , South Africa ,

2460-499: The " strinization " of the original word, a process of changing vowels as part of Australian slang. However, while the names "Shiraz" and "Hermitage" gradually replaced "Scyras" in Australia from the mid-19th century, the spelling "Shiraz" has also been documented in British sources back to at least the 1830s. So while the name or spelling "Shiraz" may be an effect of the English language on

2542-605: The 1860s, Syrah was established as an important variety in Australia. Syrah continues to be the main grape of the northern Rhône and is associated with classic wines such as Hermitage , Cornas and Côte-Rôtie . In the southern Rhône, it is used as a blending grape in such wines as Châteauneuf-du-Pape , Gigondas and Côtes du Rhône , where Grenache usually makes up the bulk of the blend. Although its best incarnations will age for decades, less-extracted styles may be enjoyed young for their lively red and blueberry characters and smooth tannin structure. Syrah has been widely used as

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2624-554: The 1970s, white wine was so popular that growers were ripping out unprofitable Shiraz and Grenache vineyards, even those with old vines . In the Barossa Valley , the world's oldest continually producing commercial vineyard is believed to be the Shiraz vines at Turkey Flat in Tanunda that were originally planted in 1847. Many factors, including the success of brands like Lindemans (part of Treasury Wine Estates ) and Jacob's Creek in

2706-506: The 70-year Avignon Papacy . At the time, wine-growing around the town of Avignon was anything but illustrious. While the Avignon Papacy did much to advance the reputation of Burgundy wines, they also promoted viticulture of the surrounding area, more specifically the area 5–10 km (3–6 mi) north of Avignon close to the banks of the Rhône . Prior to the Avignon Papacy, viticulture of that area had been initiated and maintained by

2788-493: The AOC name (such as Cote-Rotie, Crozes-Hermitage or Hermitage) appears on the label. Varietal labeling of Syrah/Shiraz wines is therefore a practice that has emerged in the New World, primarily in Australia. To confuse matters, in northern Rhône, different clones of genuine Syrah are referred to as Petite Syrah (small Syrah) or Gros Syrah (large Syrah) depending on the size of their berries, with Petite Syrah being considered

2870-449: The Bishops of Avignon but largely for local consumption. John XXII , who succeeded Clement V, in addition to Burgundy wine, regularly drank wine from the vineyards to the north and did much to improve viticultural practices there. Under John XXII, the wines of this area came to be known as "Vin du Pape", this term later becoming "Châteauneuf-du-Pape". John XXII also built the castle which is

2952-512: The Côte Brune ("brown slope") in the north on dark, iron-rich schist and the Côte Blonde with its pale granite and schist soil. Erosion is a common viticultural hazard on these steep vineyards. The granite and schist soils are vital in retaining heat throughout the day to protect the vines from the chilly temperatures during the mistral seasons. Stone walls are built around the lands, and the hillsides are often heavily terraced to try to counter

3034-685: The Scotsman James Busby , often called "the Father of Australian viticulture", made a trip back to Europe to collect cuttings from vines (primarily from France and Spain ) for introduction to Australia. One of the varieties collected by him was Syrah, although Busby used the two spellings "Scyras" and "Ciras". The cuttings were planted in the Royal Botanic Garden , and in Hunter Valley , and in 1839 brought from Sydney to South Australia . By

3116-739: The UK, as well as Rosemount in the US and UK, were responsible for a dramatic expansion of plantings during the 1980s and 1990s; a similar trajectory occurred in California. However, the biggest factor in this expansion during the 1990s was a steady increase in exports due to the historically low value of the Australian dollar . In the 2005–2006 growing season, total Shiraz plantations in Australia stood at 41,115 hectares (101,600 acres), of which 39,087 hectares (96,590 acres) were old enough to be productive. These vines yielded

3198-549: The US. It is often used as a blending grape in Spain and Italy as well. It is also planted in Portugal, which favor making varietal Syrah wine, and not only blending with other types. In Italy, Syrah is grown in Tuscany (i.e. Cortona DOC ), Lazio (Pontine Agro), and Apulia (Syrah Tarantino IGT ). Also a DOC Sirah Piedmont exists. The region though which has made one of the best uses of Syrah, by blending it with Nero d'Avola grapes,

3280-519: The aging potential of over 20 years. The most distinctive characteristic of all Côte-Rôtie wine is the aroma. The fragrant notes of these wines often include green olives, raspberry, violets , and meaty bacon. Other flavors commonly associated with Côte-Rôtie wine include black pepper, white pepper, blueberry, blackberry, plum, and leather. The vines of the region are very old, with 40 years being an average and some vines being over 100. This produces low wine yields of very flavor-concentrated fruit. Most of

3362-484: The area with planted vines increased from 102 hectares (250 acres) to 231 hectares (570 acres). The origins of the Côte-Rôtie most famous planting—Syrah—is confirmed to be indigenous to the Rhone valley. Syrah has been genetically shown to be a cross between Mondeuse Blanche and Dureza . Syrah Syrah ( / ˈ s iː r ɑː / ), also known as Shiraz , is a dark-skinned grape variety grown throughout

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3444-564: The bulk of Châteauneuf-du-Pape was sold to Burgundy as vin de médecine to be added to Burgundy wine to boost the strength and alcohol levels. In the early 20th century, Châteauneuf-du-Pape was plagued by wine fraud ; various rules for the production of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, drawn up and promulgated in 1923, were the first Appellation Contrôlée rules in France and provided the prototype for subsequent AOC rules. The original AOC rules allowed ten varieties, were amended to thirteen in 1936 and eighteen in 2009. Baron Pierre le Roy of Château Fortia

3526-490: The case of Côte-Rôtie . Syrah is also a key component to many blends. It may be used to add structure and color to Grenache in southern Rhône blends, including Côtes-du-Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape . Syrah is also the only red grape used in the wines of the northern Rhône. In 1968, there existed only 2,700 hectares (6,700 acres) of Syrah vineyards in France, primarily in the traditional appellations of northern Rhône, which at that time had not received much attention in

3608-458: The characteristic dark Châteauneuf color. Beginning in the 1970s, market tendencies to prefer lighter, fruitier wines that can be drank sooner have prompted some estates to experiment with carbonic maceration . Low yields are considered critical to the success of Châteauneuf-du-Pape with the principal grape varieties tending to make thin and bland wine when produced in higher quantities. The AOC requirements limit yields to 368 gallons per acre, which

3690-527: The city of Shiraz in ancient Iran . The former capital of the Persian Empire under the Achaemenid dynasty produced the well-known Shirazi wine , and legends claim the original grape was later brought to the Rhône . At least two significantly different versions of the myth are reported, giving different accounts of how the grape variety is supposed to have travelled, differing up to 1,800 years in dating

3772-468: The description of the wine would also fit, for example, Dureza, and Pliny's observation that vines of Allobrogica were resistant to cold is not entirely consistent with Syrah. The grape's many other synonyms are used in various parts of the world, including Antourenein noir , Balsamina , Candive , Entournerein , Hignin noir , Marsanne noir , Schiras , Sirac , Syra , Syrac , Serine , and Sereine . Legends of Syrah's origins often connect it with

3854-618: The event. In one version, the Phocaeans could have brought Syrah to their colony around Marseilles , then known as Massilia , an ancient Greek colony ( apoikia ) on the Mediterranean coast , east of the Rhône, which was founded around 600 BCE by the ancient Greeks . The grape would then later have spread to the northern Rhône, which was never colonized by the Phocaeans. No documentary evidence exists to back up this legend, and it also requires

3936-406: The export market may also have played a role. In 1988, total French plantings stood at 27,000 hectares (67,000 acres), and the 1999 viticultural survey found 50,700 hectares (125,000 acres) of Syrah vineyards. France thus has the world's largest plantations of Syrah. While previously unused parts of the northern Rhône vineyards have been planted with Syrah as part of the expansion, the major part of

4018-598: The first time. The name "Shiraz", from Shiraz in Iran , was historically applied to a wine unrelated to contemporary Shiraz wines and was made from a grape or grapes entirely different from the Syrah that has been proven to originate in southeastern France. Smaller amounts of Syrah are also used in the production of other wine styles, such as rosé wine , fortified wine in Port wine style, and sparkling red wine. While Australian sparkling Shiraz traditionally have had some sweetness,

4100-621: The grape variety's origin, based on the name Syrah , is that it was brought from Syracuse by the legions of Roman Emperor Probus sometime after 280 CE. This legend also lacks documentary evidence and is inconsistent with ampelographic findings. Another proposed etymology links it with the Proto-Celtic word * serra ' billhook ', presumably because the billhook was used in pruning . The name "Shiraz" has been used primarily in Australia in modern times, where it has long been established as

4182-537: The issues. Some vineyard owners gather the eroded soils and rocks in buckets and carry them back up the slope to the vines. Syrah and Viognier are the only permitted grape varieties of the Côte-Rôtie AOC. While many of the region's wines are made of 100% Syrah, up to 20% of Viognier can be added to the wine. The wines are often meant to be consumed 5–6 years after vinification but well-made examples can need 10–15 years to fully develop their flavors with some wines having

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4264-445: The most grown dark-skinned variety. In Australia, it was also commonly called Hermitage up to the late 1980s, but since that name became a French Protected Designation of Origin , this naming practice caused a problem in some export markets and was dropped. The name "Scyras" was used to describe the grape in the earliest Australian documents, and "Shiraz" has been speculated (among others by Jancis Robinson ) to have come about through

4346-508: The name of garrigue . Châteauneuf-du-Pape dominated by Mourvèdre tend to be higher in tannin and requiring longer cellaring before being approachable. White Châteauneuf-du-Pape is produced by excluding the red varieties and only using the six permitted white varieties. The white varieties account for 7 percent of total plantings according to 2004 statistics, and a portion of the whites grapes are blended into red wines, which means that white wine production only accounts for around 5 percent of

4428-441: The name or synonyms of the variety. Varying orthography for grape names render dubious any name-based evidence of origins. Nevertheless, origins such as Syracuse or the famous Iranian city of Shiraz had been proposed while the genomic studies had yet to be done. The parentage information, however, does not reveal how old the grape variety is, i.e., when the pollination of a Mondeuse blanche vine by Dureza took place, leading to

4510-527: The new French Syrah plantations are located in southern Rhône (which covers a much larger vineyard area than the northern part) and Languedoc-Roussillon . While southern Rhône produces relatively few wines where Syrah is in the majority, the proportion of Syrah in the blended wines of this region has been on the rise. Languedoc-Roussillon uses Syrah to produce both Southern Rhône-like blends with Grenache , Australian-style blends with Cabernet Sauvignon , and varietal Syrah. Syrah vines in France often suffer from

4592-525: The night-time radiated heat from the stones would be detrimental to the vines and cause overripening of the grapes. La Crau is one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape's most famous lieux-dits vineyards. The vineyard is owned primarily by Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe , one of the most classic Châteauneufs, but also producer Henri Bonneau maintains a firm position here. The vineyard is very rich in the aforementioned galets roulés , while Domaine du Vieux Lazaret with its over 100 hectares owned by Vignobles Jérôme Quiot

4674-423: The north-west to Sorgues near Avignon in the south-east. The altitude reaches 120 meters at its highest, in the northern part of the appellation. It covers 3200 hectares of land with at least three distinct types of soil or terroirs . In the north and north-east the famous galets roulés , round rocks or pebbles, cover the clay soil. The rocks are famous for retaining the heat from the plentiful sun, some 2800 hours

4756-604: The northern Rhone Valley and parts of the Walla Walla AVA in Washington State ), they tend to produce medium to full-bodied wines with medium-plus to high levels of tannins and notes of blackberry, mint and black pepper . In hot climates (such as Crete , and the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale regions of Australia ), Syrah is more consistently full-bodied with softer tannin, jammier fruit and spice notes of licorice , anise and earthy leather. In many regions

4838-410: The northern Rhône, has a continental climate that is very different from the more Mediterranean climate of the southern Rhône. Winters are wet and marked by the cold mistral winds that can last into the spring. During the late spring and early autumn, fog can settle on the vineyards making the ripening of grapes a challenge. The wine region covers 202 hectares (500 acres) along the western bank of

4920-654: The number of varieties previously mentioned from thirteen to fifteen. Red varieties allowed are Cinsault , Counoise , Grenache noir , Mourvèdre , Muscardin , Piquepoul noir , Syrah , Terret noir , and Vaccarèse (Brun Argenté). White and pink varieties are Bourboulenc , Clairette blanche , Clairette rose , Grenache blanc , Grenache gris , Picardan , Piquepoul blanc , Piquepoul gris , and Roussanne . (The varieties not specifically mentioned before 2009 are Clairette rose, Grenache gris and Piquepoul gris.) Both red and white varieties are allowed in both red and white Châteauneuf-du-Pape. There are no restrictions as to

5002-594: The original Syrah seed plant. In the year 77 CE, Pliny the Elder wrote in his Naturalis Historia about the wines of Vienne (which today would be called Côte-Rôtie ), where the Allobroges made famous and prized wine from a dark-skinned grape variety that had not existed some 50 years earlier, in Virgil 's age. Pliny called the vines of this wine Allobrogica , and it has been speculated that it could be today's Syrah. However,

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5084-401: The other hand, would then be more similar to archetypical Australian or other New World examples, presumably made from riper berries , more fruit-driven, higher in alcohol, less obviously tannic, peppery rather than smokey, usually more easily approached when young, and possibly slightly sweetish in impression. It must, however, be realized that this rule of thumb is unevenly applied. Syrah is

5166-511: The plant [Scyras] was originally brought from Shiraz in Persia, by one of the hermits of the mountain" called Gaspare de Stérimberg. There is a connection between the name Syrah and the Persian word "سیاه" (pronounced siah or syah , meaning "black"). It refers to the origin of this grape, which comes from black grapes and shows connection between the city of Shiraz and this grape. Another legend of

5248-467: The producer. The earliest record of viticulture in the region dates to the 2nd century BC when the Romans first encountered the Allobroges tribe whose territory included the regions around Vienne. While winemaking continued to have a long history in the region, the Côte-Rôtie did not receive much recognition until the 18th century when Parisians began discovering the wines of Beaujolais and Rhône. Around

5330-429: The proportion of grape varieties to be used, and unlike the case with other appellations, the allowed grape varieties are not differentiated into principal varieties and accessory varieties. Thus, it is theoretically possible to produce varietal Châteauneuf-du-Pape from any of the eighteen allowed varieties. In reality, most Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are blends dominated by Grenache. Only one of every 16 bottles produced in

5412-414: The region contains white wine. With 72% of the total vineyard surface in 2004, Grenache noir is very dominant, followed by Syrah at 10.5% and Mourvèdre at 7%, both of which have expanded in recent decades. Cinsaut, Clairette, Grenache blanc, Roussanne and Bourboulenc each cover 1-2.5%, and the remaining seven varieties each account for 0.5% or less. It is common to grow the vines as gobelets and this

5494-409: The region tends to focus on balancing the high sugar levels in the grape with the tannins and phenols that are common in red Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Following harvest , the grape clusters are rarely destemmed prior to fermentation . The fermentation temperatures are kept high, with the skins being frequently pumped over and punched down for the benefit of tannin levels and color extraction to achieve

5576-400: The region's wines, passed a law banning flying cigars from entering their airspace or landing on their territory, a law which remains in effect to this day. The legend has become lore among wine aficionados, and the wine Cigare Volant (French for "flying cigar"), in production since 1984, is named after the tale. The appellation stretches from the eastern bank of the Rhône near Orange in

5658-428: The same time, the British also discovered the wines with the purchase logs of John Hervey, 1st Earl of Bristol providing one of the earliest English records of "Côte-Rôty" (sic) wine. There were added considerations with the transportation of Côte-Rôtie wine, with the region using 20-U.S. gallon (76 liter) amphora -like vases for transport instead of barrels or early wine bottles . Until a few decades ago, Côte-Rôtie

5740-646: The superior version, giving wines higher in phenolics . As a general rule, most Australian and South African wines are labeled "Shiraz", and most European wines (from such regions where varietal labeling is practiced) are labeled "Syrah". In other countries, practices vary and winemakers (or wine marketers) sometimes choose either "Syrah" or "Shiraz" to signify a stylistic difference in the wine they have made. "Syrah"-labelled wines are sometimes thought to be more similar to classic Northern Rhône reds; presumably more elegant, tannic, smoke-flavoured and restrained with respect to their fruit component. "Shiraz"-labelled wines, on

5822-484: The symbol of the appellation. In the 18th century, the wines were shipped under the name vin d'Avignon . Records from the early 19th century mention wines of the name Châteauneuf-du-Pape-Calcernier which seems to have been a lighter-style wine than the Châteauneuf-du-Pape of today. They seem to have increased in reputation within France until phylloxera hit in the early 1870's which was earlier than most other French wine regions were affected. Prior to World War I ,

5904-426: The total. In white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Grenache blanc and Roussanne provides fruitiness and fatness to the blend while Bourboulenc , Clairette and Picpoul add acidity, floral and mineral notes. The style of these wines range from lean and minerally to oily and rich with a variety of aromas and flavor notes—including almond , star fruit , anise , fennel , honeysuckle and peach . A single varietal, Roussanne, that

5986-425: The two sub-regions, incorporating both sets of distinctive qualities. In recent years, more single vineyard designated wines have been produced that emphasize the terroir of that vineyard. Marcel Guigal was an early pioneer in single vineyard bottling. Some of the most prestigious vineyards in the Côte-Rôtie include, La Chatillone, La Chevalière, La Garde, La Landonne, La Mouline, La Turque. The Côte-Rôtie

6068-458: The variety to later vanish from the Marseilles region without leaving any trace. The legend connecting Syrah's origins with the city of Shiraz in ancient Iran may, however, be of French origin. James Busby wrote in his Journal of a recent visit to the principal vineyards of Spain and France an excerpt from the 1826 book Œnologie Française ; "according to the tradition of the neighbourhood,

6150-417: The vineyards used for producing Côte-Rôtie AOC are planted on the slopes of nearly 60° incline. The appellation extends to the flatter plateau above the slopes but the wine there is generally of lower quality and is sold with the more generic Côtes du Rhône AOC . Legend has that the two sub-regions of the Côte-Rôtie, Côte Blonde and Côte Brune, were named after the blonde and brown hair colored daughters of

6232-536: The vineyards, and the preservation of such varieties is a speciality of Montpellier . Mondeuse blanche is a white grape variety cultivated in the Savoie region, and is still found in small amounts in that region's vineyards today. Both varieties are somewhat obscure today, and have never achieved anything near Syrah's fame or popularity, and there is no record of them ever having been cultivated at long distances from their present homes. Thus, both of Syrah's parents come from

6314-460: The wine world for several decades, and the vineyards of which were not planted to full capacity. After the wines of northern Rhône were "rediscovered" by wine writers in the 1970s, plantings expanded considerably. This trend received an extra boost in the 1980s and 1990s, when influential wine writer Robert M. Parker Jr. awarded high scores, up to the "perfect" score of 100 points, to wines of some Rhône producers. The popularity of Australian Shiraz on

6396-656: The wine. Some estates produce varietal (100%) Grenache noir, while a few producers insist on using at least a token amount of all thirteen originally permitted varieties in their blend. One of the few estates to grow all these varieties and use them consistently in a blend is Château de Beaucastel . Châteauneuf-du-Pape red wines are often described as earthy with gamey flavors that have hints of tar and leather . The wines are considered tough and tannic in their youth but maintain their rich spiciness as they age. The wines often exhibit aromas of dried herbs common in Provence under

6478-428: The world and used primarily to produce red wine . In 1999, Syrah was found to be the offspring of two obscure grapes from southeastern France , Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche . Syrah should not be confused with Petite Sirah , a cross of Syrah with Peloursin dating from 1880. The style and flavor profile of wines made from Syrah are influenced by the climate where the grapes are grown. In moderate climates (such as

6560-592: Was introduced into Switzerland in 1926 and in 2009 was the 6th most common red wine grape in Switzerland (181 hectares). Mostly grown in Valais , along the upper Rhône valley above Lake Geneva , it produces "unexpectedly concentrated wine from mature vines". Syrah plantations in Argentina increased from less than 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) in 1990 to 9,500 hectares (23,000 acres) in 2002. Syrah has occasionally been used as

6642-534: Was not a serious competitor to Hermitage , which was the best-known northern Rhône vineyard internationally. Demand for Rhône wines began to grow in the early 1970s, and this growth accelerated from the late 1970s/early 1980s. For Côte-Rôtie it was the wines of Marcel Guigal which gave the appellation increased attention from the early 1980s. This included top marks from international wine critics for Guigal's wines La Mouline and La Landonne . This increase in demand led to new vineyards being created. From 1982 to 2005,

6724-631: Was the principal architect of these regulations which set the minimum alcohol level of the wines and set limits on yields as well as which types of grapes could be grown in which areas. Another of the baron's requirements was that no vineyards were to be planted on land that was not arid enough to support plantings of both lavender and thyme . In 1954, there was a media sensation as local stories claimed that "flying cigars", or UFOs similar to flying saucers, had been spotted above Châteauneuf-du-Pape and that aliens were interested in their wine. Local politicians, said to be sensing an opportunity to promote

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