"syrah" news and stories

California Syrah is pretty darn complex -- but it's also approachable.

An offshoot of two French grapes, Dureza and Mondeuse Blanc, Syrah is grown from near San Diego on the southern end on up to Mendocino's foggy coastline, and each of those locations and their climate differences plays a huge role in how the wine tastes. In Australia, South Africa and Canada, Syrah is referred to as Shiraz, but it's the exact same grape. While it remains the Rhone's most popular grape, California Syrah should not be ignored. The Golden State may be better known for its Chardonnay and Cabernet, but that's precisely why uncorking a bottle of Syrah is a refreshing change.

Very approachable for a variety of palates, this is an ideal wine to pull out at a dinner party. Splurge a little by springing for one of these four Syrahs and serving them with peppered meats, pizza or lamb.

Here are four of my favorite Syrahs from California producers.

Beckmen Vineyards 2008 Syrah Purisma Mountain Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley, California ($48)
Syrah grapes from the winery's biodynamic-certified vineyard are used to make this wine, which is packed with concentrated blackberry notes and hints of violet.

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Because it's almost grilling season in many parts of the country, Syrah is a great wine to have on hand. It also pairs well with tomato-based pasta sauces and cheddar or cheddar-style (we like Double Gloucester) cheeses as well as Camembert.

Now, for a quick lesson: Syrah and Shiraz are actually the same grape. Generally speaking, it's referred to as Syrah in France, the rest of Europe, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and the U.S. Yet in Australia, it's Shiraz.

Find six Syrahs we recently opened and fell in love with after the jump.

Wednesday's headline (Fox News): Palin Syrah: Wine Drinkers Balk at a Chilean Wine with Hints of Alaska

Friday's headline (Associated Press): A Syrah Named Palin Gets a Boost from Sarah Palin

Apparently, drinking Syrah from a boutique Chilean winery has become a political minefield in the USA. Republican? Order it by the case. Democrat? Try something else. (Perhaps a beer in the Obama Biden beer stein?)

The whole thing makes me laugh--the idea of politicizing a wine that happens to share the name of a vice-presidential candidate (though it's pronounced differently: Pay-LEEN). Of course, Republicans and Democrats do tend to drink differently: a recent survey of D.C. bartenders showed that Democrats tip better, Republicans are more likely to order their drinks straight up, and it's almost an even split on who arrives early for happy hour.

We buy wine for all kinds of reasons, some of them emotional, and apparently some of them political. I haven't tried the wine so can't speak to its quality, but now I'm curious. Have you tried the wine? Is it any good--even if you lean left?

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Fall is the time for football. And with football comes food like buffalo wings, sausages, pizza, and potato chips. And while most guys (and gals - yes, I know you're football fans too) go for cold beer with their football viewing, don't forget that you can also drink wine with these foods too.

The Boston Phoenix asked the owners and beverage managers of several Boston restaurants for their picks for the best wine to serve with football food. If you're serving spicy wings, Josh Childs at the Silvertone Bar & Grill suggests a California zinfandel from or a syrah from the Rhone region of France (or, for a contrast, a German riesling). For nachos, a sparkling white.

Bill Earle at Bouchee' says that if you're serving chili, he'd suggest a California zinfandel, for the rich fruit and the spice to go with the hotness in the chili. And for hearty sausages? Kate Smith at Butcher Shop suggests a pinot gris or a gewuztraminer or a riesling.

But wait: pizza is missing from this list! I'd say pizza is eaten more while watching football than sausages or wings. Suggestions, readers?