In France it is called Syrah, but the rest of the world know it as Shiraz.
In the Northern Rhône area of France, Syrah is used un-blended, and is responsible for red wines, that have the strongly floral scent of violets or roses, with a luscious chocolate texture and interesting spice note of fresh black pepper. Australian Shiraz tends to be less peppery, but full of creamy blackberries and a scent reminiscent of warm leather.
The French variety can also be blended with other French grape varieties such as Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvèdre.
The Rhône, Languedoc and Roussillon regions are speciality regions for Syrah, but the Barossa Valley in Australia is also a close rival for quality.
