syrah
syrah Lexical Profile
syrah Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A full-bodied red wine made primarily or entirely from the syrah grape, noted for its deep color, firm tannins, and dark fruit and peppery flavors.
"The sommelier recommended a peppery French syrah to pair with the roasted lamb."
A dark-skinned wine grape variety originating in the Rhône Valley of southeastern France, widely cultivated in temperate climates around the world for winemaking.
"The vineyard's gravelly hillsides provide ideal drainage for growing high-quality syrah."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although Syrah and Shiraz are genetically the exact same grape variety, winemakers often use "Syrah" for leaner, more peppery, European-style wines and "Shiraz" for bolder, fruit-forward styles notably associated with Australia.
• Rhymes for syrah
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from French Syrah, the grape was long fabled to have come from the Persian city of Shiraz, though modern DNA profiling confirms it originated natively in the Rhône Valley of southeastern France.