South American Wine Guide, Independent Guide to the Best Wines in South America for Visitors to Peru

Home / Red Wine Varieties / White Wine Varieties / Wines from Peru / Wines from Argentina / Wines from Chile / Restaurant Wine Lists / Wine Reviews / Wine Tasting / FAQ / Articles / Links

South American Wines

An Introduction to the Wines of South America for Visitors to Peru

Red Wine Varieties: SYRAH or SHIRAZ

Other Red Wine Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon / Malbec / Merlot / Carmenere / Syrah / Pinot Noir / Cabernet Franc / Bonarda / Tempranillo / Sangiovese / Tannat

SYRAH or SHIRAZ
This grape seems to grow well in a number of areas and is capable of rendering rich, complex and distinctive wines, with pronounced pepper, spice, black cherry, tar, leather and roasted nut flavors, a smooth, supple texture and smooth tannins.

Wine characteristics
General High tannins, high acidity, blackberry, dark chocolate
Medium climate Mint, eucalyptus, smoked meat, black pepper
Hot climate Liquorice, cloves
With age Leather, wet leaves, earth

Wines made from Syrah are often quite powerfully flavoured and full-bodied. The variety produces wines with 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, espresso and black pepper. No one aroma can be called "typical" though blackberry 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, including winemakers' practices (such as oak barrel and yeast regimes), and land terroir qualities.

Syrah/Shiraz: This grape is grown in France and California as Syrah wine, and in Australia as Shiraz. In France, it is associated with the Rhone Valley and Hermitage red wines. Syrah tends towards a minerally, blueberry, or sometimes spicy and peppery type of flavor. Petite Sirah is an entirely different grape.

Home / Red Wine Varieties / White Wine Varieties / Wines from Peru / Wines from Argentina / Wines from Chile / Restaurant Wine Lists / Wine Reviews / Wine Tasting / FAQ

South American Wines - An Independent Guide to the some of the Best Wines from Peru, Argentina & Chile.