Every fourth Thursday of July we celebrate Syrah – a black grape variety which produces some of the darkest, punchiest and most age-worthy wines. Also known as Shiraz, Syrah originates from the Rhône region in France but has become a true international varietal, flourishing in vineyards around the world.
To its roots, in the northern Rhône’s appellations like Côte Rôtie and Hermitage, Syrah produces complex, full-bodied wines bursting with red and black fruits, violets, pepper and savoury meatiness.
In the south to appellations including famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Syrah is most often blended, adding colour, tannin, spice and complexity to these traditional GSM (Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre) blends. South again to neighbouring Languedoc-Roussillon, varietal and blended Syrah wines are worth exploring for a riper style.
Scroll down to discover 15 top-scoring Shiraz wines from DWWA 2024
Outside France, Shiraz thrives in the New World with Australia being one of its biggest and most successful producers. Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2024 results attest this – Australia claimed the only varietal Best in Show, plus three Platinums and 12 Golds for Shiraz dominant wines.
Its international appeal, global reputation and adaptability across diverse climates is underscored further by top DWWA 2024 results with 95+ points Shiraz/Syrah wines awarded from regions as varied as New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, Chile and Spain.
Whether you’re drawn to the savoury, smoky, spicy and floral notes of a Syrah or the chocolatey, jammy, peppery richness of a Shiraz, the allure and versatility of this grape
