Shiraz wine refers to two different wines. Historically, the name refers to the wine produced around the city of Shiraz in Iran. In the current era, "Shiraz" is an alternative name for the Syrah grape, mostly used in Australia and South Africa.
Often referred to as the classic Australian red wine, Shiraz is an easy to drink, all-time favourite. Concentrated red cherry and plum is complemented by notes of vanilla, mocha and spice. Rich and smooth, with juicy red berries and hints of vanilla and spice.
Shiraz or Syrah wines should be served slightly chilled to enhance the flavours. Be warned, though, as serving Shiraz too cold will dull its taste and aroma. An ideal temperature range for Shiraz or Syrah wine is around 15–19°C.
While Shiraz is typically a dry wine, there are some variations of Shiraz that can be enjoyed as a dessert wine. The main difference between Shiraz as a dry wine and Shiraz as a dessert wine is the residual sugar content. Dessert wines have a higher residual sugar content, which gives them a sweeter flavour profile.
With good acidity, ripe and soft tannins and fruity character Syrah / Shiraz grape variety is quite easy to fall in love with, if you are only starting to explore wine world. However, it is also very appealing to experienced wine lovers, because Syrah / Shiraz can make wines of exceptional complexity and great ageing c.
Shiraz is neither a cheap wine, nor an expensive wine, it is a wine grape which can be used to produce wines of a range of qualities and resulting price.
Other grape varieties that have been analysed include the likes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz which have been found to be rich in antioxidants, especially flavonoids, that can help reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure.
Shiraz. Australian Shiraz is a wonderful first red wine to try and introduces you to some bold flavours. It's typically fruity and full-bodied, with intense aromatic smoky notes of dark fruit and spices.
Some Australians began to call the wine “Shiraz” due to its mythological origin in the eponymous Iranian city. Before long, this name stuck, and now Syrah/Shiraz wines are produced worldwide. Syrah and Shiraz grapes are currently the world's 7th most grown grape.
Also, Merlot is a delicate, flavorful, medium-bodied wine which is a better wine for beginning tasters. It has a fruity, delicate flavor with a velvety mouthfeel and hints of berries, plum and currant, while Shiraz is a fuller bodied, bold and powerful wine with earthy qualities of pepper, truffle and leather.
One of the characteristics of shiraz is its relatively high alcohol content. When served warm, that alcohol can sometimes dominate the wine, making it taste overly hot. A slight chill can help tone down the alcohol, allowing the other flavours, say the fruit and spice, to shine through.
So, the next time you're serving wine, remember the 20/20 rule. Pop your reds into the fridge 20 or so before you plan to serve them and pull the whites out 20 minutes or so before you want to enjoy them. Cheers!
There is one obvious answer to the second question: the epicentre of high alcohol red wines is the Barossa Valley, with McLaren Vale a close second, the Clare Valley third. Grenache frequently has the highest alcohol but shiraz is not much lower and is a far more important variety.
In Australia, locals call cheap cask wine “goon.” It's sold in disposable silver bags, aptly named “goon sacks.” Unlike a standard . 75-liter bottle of wine, goon's four-liter bag is inflatable. It's fitting that in Australia, the birthplace of boxed wine, being resourceful with your goon sack is a popular pastime.
Shiraz wines are well known for their rich and juicy mid-palate. You can expect to taste flavours of pepper, spice and sweet red fruit. We also often get a different feel on the palate, strong on the front in the mouth and on the finish but with a slightly different mid-palate feel.
If you know red wine often gives you a headache, consider steering clear of wines made from thick-skinned grapes (like Zinfandel, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon) and choose a wine made from a thin-skinned grape (like Pinot Noir, Sémillon, and Merlot) instead.
Many wine experts consider pinot noir to be the healthiest red wine because it contains the highest concentration of resveratrol. Pinot noir also contains fewer calories than other red wine varieties and may be less likely to cause heartburn thanks to its relatively low tannin content.
If you're new to red wines, Shiraz is generally more approachable due to its smooth tannins and fruit-forward profile. Cabernet Sauvignon, while excellent, can be more tannic and structured, making it ideal for those who enjoy bold, full-bodied wines.
So what this means is wines that don't taste sweet in the slightest can still be considered high-sugar wines. For instance, certain bottles of Australian Shiraz, a generally dry wine, have over 12 grams of sugar per glass. Cheaper, mass-produced wines are known to be higher in residual sugars.
