Syrah 101: Reasons to Love This Red Wine

Syrah wine is widely known for its rich aroma and over the years it has been the first choice of many wine lovers that appreciate the taste of quality wine. Nowadays, Syrah wine can be found everywhere, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, a long process of improvements and transformation precedes the Syrah wine we know today.

The Origin and History of Syrah Wine  

Although there are many speculations about the origin of Syrah wine (some think the Romans are the first ones to bring it to Europe, others think it may be coming from Iran since there is an Iranian city called Shiraz), the truth is Shiraz wine comes from France as do many other grape varieties and wines. But not long after, this grape variety got spread all around the world with Australia being the first stop. Shiraz was brought to Australia somewhere in the 1830s and until the mid 18th century there were already plenty of fields all over the South filled with Shiraz grapes.  

Nowadays, Shiraz grapes are being grown in the US, Chile, Spain, France, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Shiraz is considered to be the 6th most grown grape variety in the world. And, even though slight differences can be noticed between Australian Shiraz and the one from Spain for instance, it’s the same variety only affected by different climates. Now, when it comes to price, Shiraz wine is quite affordable considering some wines are more expensive.

The Characteristics of Syrah Wine

Syrah has a deep red colour and a very rich and complex flavour. It’s like no other, and wine lovers choose it precisely because they want to experience something unique. And uniqueness is all Shiraz wine is about. Now, no two bottles of Syrah red wine on the market taste the same. The flavour depends on the grapes themselves and the region where they’ve been grown as well as the winemaker. Every winery has its own way of making Syrah wine. But, overall Syrah wine is bold and full-bodied, fruity and very aromatic with notes of plum, pepper spice, vanilla and a hint of smoke.

Syrah is a medium-acidity wine with moderate to high levels of alcohol and plenty of tannins. On the palate, you can sense the taste of herbs, red and black fruits as well as violets. Syrah wine gets a great flavour especially when it is being aged in oak barrels. It is a really intense dry wine with depth and a smooth finish. You can drink it as soon as it is bottled, but it also has an amazing taste after a couple of years have passed. Usually, Shiraz wine lasts around 10 years (give or take) given it is stored properly in a wine cellar.

A fine wine complements food ideally. As per the pairing, Shiraz wine goes great with fast food – burgers and pizza, but it’s also classy and the perfect pairing for fancy dinners. Note that before you start pouring the wine, it is best if you cool it a bit in the refrigerator. Not too much, but around 15 minutes or so. The ideal serving temperature for Shiraz wine is 16-18 degrees Celsius. At that temperature, you can feel all the flavours and aromas and truly sense the alcohol.

If you’re looking to create the perfect match when it comes to a nice meal and Shiraz wine, then you should go for pasta with a nice sauce, mushroom dish, stew or veal with a side of vegetables. Shiraz also pairs well with barbecue. So, if you’re a fan of grilled meat, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to introduce this red wine to the party. Both the wine and the grilled meat have intense and rich flavours and they go really well together. 

Health Benefits from Drinking Syrah Wine

Now, aside from being immensely tasty and of great quality, Shiraz wine is also beneficial for your health. Yes, you read that right. In moderate doses (of course) this wine has proven to be good for your overall health. That’s a reason more to pour yourself a glass guilt-free.

• Shiraz grapes contain flavonoids, resveratrol and quercetin, and red wine, in general, contains plenty of antioxidants. The antioxidants help a lot in preventing damage inside the cells and slow down their ageing.
• It has also been shown to be great for the bones. It contains silicone, which can make the bones denser and stronger, thus preventing osteoporosis or fractures from happening.
• Red wine aids cardiovascular health as well. It protects the heart and prevents blood clots that can lead to strokes and heart attacks. But you need to take into consideration that heavy drinking will have the exact opposite effect on your heart and damage it beyond repair. So, drink responsibly.
• Syrah and red wine in general help with controlling blood sugar levels especially in people that suffer from diabetes. It’s actually the resveratrol (a compound found in red wine) that does the blood sugar regulation. Studies have shown that people taking resveratrol supplements had normal blood sugar levels as well as normal cholesterol levels and stable blood pressure.
• The antioxidants present in Syrah can help with the common cold and other diseases too.
• Red wines like Syrah might be just the thing you need to improve your cognitive abilities and the ability to remember things faster and better.
• Red wine can help you maintain a healthy weight. There’s a chemical in red wine that reduces the fat cells in the human body. So, it won’t be a bad idea to include wine in your balanced diet to achieve better results.
• Red wine is known to help treat a number of digestive disorders. It has anti-bacterial properties and helps a lot in case your stomach is irritated.
• There’s no doubt whatsoever that red wine is a real mood enhancer. But there’s another thing red wine does – keeps depression away. Studies have shown that moderate drinking of red wine can significantly decrease the risk of depression in people. Ultimately, people who drink red wine on the regular are less likely to get depressed than those who don’t drink red wine at all.