041WINE columnist Lelethu shares the secrets of Shiraz and helps us know what to look for when tasting new wines.
SYRAH/ Shiraz is one the most popular grapes in South Africa, full of spices and flavour we are known to be one the best producers of the grape but what do we know about it?
South Africa has the fourth biggest plantings of Syrah in the world, making up 10% of total vine plantings in South Africa and the second most planted red grape in South Africa. The first bottling of Shiraz was a single varietal for Bellingham in 1957.
Between 1992 and 2016, plantings increased from 900 hectares to 10,000 hectares, making it the second most planted red variety in our country. It does particularly well in Stellenbosch and the Swartland. The best South African Shirazes stand toe to toe with any wines in the world, including those in Côte Rotie, along with Hermitage. There are more single-varietal bottles of Shiraz than any other varietal wine in South Africa but is also blended with other Rhône and Southern French varieties like Grenache and Mourvèdre.
Many of my readers ask me “Why is that wine has so many different flavours?” To tell you the truth, no flavourings are added to the wine. Flavours develop naturally depending on the cultivar, terroir (soil, climate, region), how the wine is made and whether the wine was matured/ oaked. Below I have listed some basic flavours that you would likely come across wine and hopefully, next time you indulge yourself with a glass of wine, you’re able to point them out.
A basic flavour guide to tasting wine:
FRUIT: Blackberries, Raspberries, Orange, Pineapple, Blueberries, Citrus, Grapefruit, Guava, Cherries, Lemon, Naartjie, Passion fruit, Cranberries, Lime, Apple, Strawberries, Pear, Tropical.
FLORAL: Rose petal, Turkish delight, Violet, Orange blossom, Lily, Lavender, Geranium, Jasmine.
HERBS & EARTHY: Minerality, Liquorice, Thyme, Leather, Freshly cut grass, Eucalyptus, Asparagus, Farmyard, Mint, Meat spice, Peas, Cigar box, Pepper, Cloves, Mushrooms.
OAKED FLAVOURS: Vanilla, Spice, Honey, Smoky, Coffee, Butterscotch, Caramel, Bacon kips.
To celebrate this wonderful grape with me, I will be doing a Shiraz giveaway and it will be going live on Tuesday the 22nd of August 2023. Make sure to check our profile or catch it on my Instagram (@thewineaficionado) to enter!
Cheers friends!
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