Syrah is a noble red grape variety known for producing deeply colored, full-bodied wines with impressive structure, complexity, and aging potential. Its origins lie in the Rhône Valley of France—particularly the Northern Rhône—where it shines in appellations such as Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, and Saint-Joseph. In these cooler climates, Syrah tends to express savory, peppery, and earthy characteristics with notes of black olive, violet, smoked meat, and black fruit. The wines are often firm and tannic in youth, evolving into layered, elegant expressions with age. Syrah has also found great success internationally, especially in Australia, where it is known as Shiraz and often made in a riper, more fruit-forward style. Australian regions like Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Hunter Valley produce powerful Shiraz wines with rich blackberry, plum, chocolate, and spice notes, often with generous oak influence. In the New World—such as California, Washington State, South Africa, and Chile—Syrah adapts well to varying climates, showing versatility across a spectrum of styles, from plush and jammy to refined and mineral-driven. Despite its global reach, Syrah is somewhat misunderstood and underappreciated by casual consumers, often overshadowed by more recognizable names like Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. However, among sommeliers and collectors, it is prized for its ability to express terroir, age gracefully, and deliver bold yet nuanced flavor profiles. Whether as a single-varietal wine or blended (as in GSM blends with Grenache and Mourvèdre), Syrah offers tremendous depth, making it one of the great grapes of the world.