Grape Varieties & Winemaking - Black Varieties - Shiraz
4 important questions on Grape Varieties & Winemaking - Black Varieties - Shiraz
Shiraz (Syrah) is Australia's most planted grape variety. Which %? What are the characteristics?
- Planted in most 65 regions
- therefore wide variety of styles
- Hot areas: Barossa and McLaren Vale - full bodied, high % abv, high soft tannins. Jammy, dark fruits, ripe tannins and spicy notes.
- Cooler areas: Yarra Valley, Grampians - food friendly, medium bodied/less body, elegant, less %abv, less intens fruit; red and black cherry and distinct black pepper!
- Also Licorice
Australian Shiraz is widely used in blends. Which other varieties are used in these blends?
- Rhône style/GSM blends with Grenache and Mourvèdre aka Mataro
- Shiraz-Viognier as in Côte Rotie for premium blends, co-fermentation.
- with Cabernet Sauvignon to give softness and body (similar to Merlot in Bordeaux).
In Australia a less intense, more approachable style of Shiraz is the trend. How is this achieved?
- By reducing amount of extraction
- By using whole bunch fermentation and/or
- reducing the levels of oak (American is traditional, French oak increasingly used)
- Often open fermentation tanks are used with manual/mechanical punch downers to soften the extraction of tannins.
- Picking times
- Vineyard management
- Canopy management, not to get overly ripe
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What are the famous and key regions for Australian Shiraz?
- Barossa Valley - most exported, bold; earthy, kardemom, spicy
- Adelaide hills - moderate, pepper
- Canberra district
- Clare valley
- McLaren Vale - full bodied
- Hunter Valley
- The Grampians - elegant
- Eden Valley - pepper
- Mount Barker - pepper
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