(Vivino) - Where does Syrah originally come from? Are Syrah and Shiraz the same thing? Which countries produce what? Is there a link between Syrah and Petite Sirah? A brief look at the history of the grape variety and its name provides (almost) all the answers.

Although most of us get the spelling wrong 3 times out of 4, we've all heard about and tasted wines made from the Syrah grape variety.

The grape is famous for its typical fruity and peppery aromatic profile, as well as a rich and often rather tannic mouthfeel, with a dense dark color.

We also know there's quite a few places in the 'New World' that produce wines named 'Shiraz'.

But where does the grape variety originally came from? Are Syrah and Shiraz the same thing? Which countries produce what? Is there a link between Syrah and Petite Sirah? A brief look at the history of the grape variety and its name provides (almost) all the answers.

Origin and Tales: the Syrah Grape

There's been quite a few speculations, tales, and legends around the origin of the Syrah grape variety and its name, all bringing us back in time:

• The Romans could have spread it across Europe from the Sicilian city of Syracuse. Could the grape be named after this city?
• Roman author Pliny the Elder once wrote about a grape called Vitis Syriaca or 'grape from Syria,' suggesting it may have come from there.
• Syrah may simply be named after the Iranian city of Shiraz (or Chiraz). Could it be from Iran?

However, the reality is that Syrah was born and bred in France. DNA profiling has shown that the variety was created crossing an old southern France variety called Dureza with the Mondeuse Blanche grape from the Savoie region in the French Alps.

Syrah really came to prominence in France during the 18th century in the Rhone Valley, where it is still the main red grape variety.

From France to Australia, Syrah to Shiraz

In the 1830s, the first cuttings of Syrah were introduced from France to Australia by Scottish viticulturist James Busby, often referred to as "the Father of Australian viticulture." However, historical records show that he labelled these cuttings as "Scyras" and "Ciras".

From there, the grape variety was planted in the Sydney Botanical Gardens, then the Hunter Valley, before making it to South Australia in the middle of the 18th century.

It remains a bit of a mystery exactly how Syrah became Shiraz. Is it because of the wrong original labelling of the first cuttings, or because of the strong Australian accent?

One thing is sure, Syrah and Shiraz today are the exact same grape variety, although like for all grapes, different clones and variants exist.

However, as the grape variety was spread and planted all around the New World, the Syrah and Shiraz names have almost gone from an indication of origin to an indication of style.

Where Are Syrah and Shiraz Grown? Which Name for What?

Syrah is one of the most important grape varieties of the Rhone Valley region of France. In the northern part of the Rhone, it is the only red grape variety allowed for the production of wine from appellations like Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, or Côte Rôtie. In southern Rhone, like in Châteauneuf-du-Pape or most the Côtes du Rhône, Syrah is generally blended with other grapes like Grenache or Mourvèdre, forming the famous GSM blend.

With Syrah also planted in other French regions like the Languedoc-Roussillon, France remains the world's biggest producer of the grape by some distance.

Australia is the second biggest producer of Syrah, accounting for about 40% of the country's total wine output. Down Under, Syrah is almost invariably called Shiraz and produces the most famous and expensive Aussie wines like Penfold's Grange Bin 95 and Henschke Hill of Grace.

Plantings of Syrah are very important in Spain, but the wines are almost always blended with other varieties and rarely appears on labels. No debate there at least around the name.

The entire 'New World' has also been seduced by the rich and spicy grape variety with varietal wines produced in important quantities in South Africa, the United States, and Chile. There, the name Syrah or Shiraz is often used to indicate the wine style. Syrah indicates a wine generally made in a cooler climate in a more restrained style, while the Shiraz labelling is reserved for rich, alcoholic, and exuberant expressions.

Today though, lines are moving:

• Some French producers have started using the term Shiraz to emphasize on the New World style of Syrah wine they produce, in Languedoc-Roussillon in particular.
• Some Australian producers in cooler areas have even started labelling some wines as Syrah.

New Zealand has recently entered the club of countries producing Syrah. To underline New Zealand's cool climate and the peppery and mineral style produced there, Kiwis nearly always use the term 'Syrah.'

Is Petite Sirah Related to Syrah?

Syrah and Petite Sirah have similar names, but are spelt differently. Confusing!

Is Petite Sirah a baby Syrah? The simple and short answer is yes and no.

Petite Sirah was an entirely new grape variety discovered in the 1860s by French Botanist Francois Durif who named his new breed after himself. The Durif grape was then introduced to the United States and became popular in California under the name Petite Sirah for its resemblance to Syrah but with smaller berries.

It was only in the 1990s that not only Petite Sirah was identified as being the same grape as Durif, but also that one of the grape varieties crossed by Professor Durif to create his new grape was in fact Syrah.