A Nice One From the Land Down Under

Hey Fellow Winos!

I opened up a bottle of Shiraz last night and to my excitement... it was a tasty little number. Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz 2005. This wine has ripe plum flavors with spice and balanced by tannins that make it a nice accompaniment with food. At $9.99 buy as much as you can carry!

The one thing that it prompted me to think about is the different terminology that is used for the same grapes, depending on where they are grown.

Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape, just different terms for them. In a nut shell it goes like this. Syrah is the old-world name, and it's used when referring to wines from France's Rhone Valley. Any winemaker/winery that makes wine in that manner from California will also call it Syrah. Shiraz is the "new-world" name, and it's used by winemakers/wineries making wine in the modern style, like Australia.

Another example that comes to mind is Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris. Same grape different names depending on whom is producing it and where. Pinot Grigio from Italy and California... Pinot Gris from France and Oregon. (Of course other countries and producers use both terms but these are the primary examples)

Pinot Noir and Pinotage. Although these are not the same grapes exactly, both wines are very close! Pinot Noirfrom France, California and Oregon while Pinotage from South Africa. Pinotage is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. Pinotage is a grape variety that was created in South Africa in 1925 at Stellenbosch University.

Zinfandel and Primitivo. Zinfandel from California and Primitivo from Italy. (Roots of this grape take us all the way back to Croatia)

I thought this would clear up some of the confusion you my encounter on your wine travels and conversations.

Cheers!

J