Each month I teach wine classes at a local winery. This month: Syrah.
Last month: Chenin.
After the class I blogged a much shorter version of the class with wines to try. I think it's a good way to keep this blog going (and if people happen to have attended my class--thanks for checking out my blog, too--here's a refresher).
So, I'm going to have a wine of the month--focused on the wine that I have for my class.
Here's my introduction. Next Blog will be history of, following modern history/viticulture information and finally (ah finally) a list of wines to try.
I'll do this in a matter of days--but rather than writing one REALLY long blog a month, I'll break it up as I go.
On with the Intro...
Ah, Syrah. Or Shiraz. Or Scyras for that matter.
When I worked the retail circuit, there were two camps of customers regarding syrah. Loved the stuff--but we're mostly talking the Aussie kind. Or couldn't stand it and wanted to avoid it completely.
Why? Because unlike last month's grape (chenin), there has been a Syrah (Shiraz) craze in all the wine mags. It began in the late ninety's and has finally dwindled away. Shiraz: the aussie darling of the wine world that's grown a wart and most people are completely appalled by that wart therefore won't even bother looking. Other's don't even notice.
Really poor way of saying people got tired of it. Got tired of the big fruit bombs from Downunder as well as tired of the 'hype'.
There's a good reason for it. We tend to overdo things when it comes to wine. When something's hot, it's hot--and that means you're going to see the same wines at every restaurant in town, in your friend's wine cellars, and most importantly, in those dang wine mags.
Then, collectively, we move on. In the retail circuit we're constantly trying to guess the next wine fad. Sometimes we see it coming and are actually excited about it (riesling), other times we're a bit surprised and don't quite get it (Aussie Shiraz).
Now, you may be thinking that I don't like Syrah. Or Shiraz. Not true--one of my favorites. And if I'm looking for a good value with a bbq or lamb dinner--if I don't head to Italy, I head to Australia.
But, this is where I didn't get the fad, or understand it completely.
Firstly, drinking Australian wine was fine, but people wouldn't even think about drinking French wine--it's unamerican.
Secondly, Aussie fruit is really, really distinguishable--and while different wineries do different things, they're still fruit bombs dispite valiant efforts not to be sometimes. It's hot down there. Syrah likes heat--this isn't a bad thing. It just means they tend to taste an awful lot alike. Wouldn't you want to diversify your options (apparently not looking at most american's stock portfolios...)?
Thirdly, the damn focus that never went away. It was all about Australia for so long (still is), one would be surprised to find that Syrah is grown in 20 different countries around the world. A lot of people still don't know Shiraz and Syrah are the same thing.
So, if you fall into either of these camps (like Shiraz but that's all you know or are sick and tired of the stuff), hopefully I can broaden your horizon over the next couple of blogs. Or, if you'd just like to learn more about Syrah and are interested in trying a few--stay tuned.
Post a Comment