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Shiraz also known as Syrah is a dark-skinned grape variety grown throughout the world used to primarily produce full-bodied red wine. Shiraz grapes are used to make single varietal wines (known as Shiraz or Syrah) or wines blended with other grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Durif. An interesting varietal wine is made when small amounts of the white wine grape Viognier are blended with Shiraz. The addition of Viognier makes a smoother tasting wine with overtones of apricot. Shiraz grapes were introduced into Australia by James Busby in 1832. Busby brought Syrah vine clippings with him when he immigrated to NSW. Today, Shiraz is the most popular wine grape grown in Australia. In the Barossa Valley, the world's oldest continually planted commercial production vineyard is at Turkey Flat in Tanunda. The style and flavour of wines made from Shiraz grapes is heavily influenced by the climate where the grapes are grown. In moderate climates including the Northern Rhone Valley in France and the Mornington Peninsula Shiraz wines tend to be medium bodied with medium levels of tannins and overtones of blackberry, mint and black pepper. In hot climates including the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Hunter and Rutherglen regions the wines are more full bodied with softer tannins, jammier fruit and overtones of leather, anise and liquorice. The fruit, acidity and tannin levels of Shiraz give it great cellaring potential and a very good Shiraz may be successfully cleared for twenty plus years. Shiraz is estimated to be the 7th most grown grape variety in the world with over 160,000 hectares of Shiraz grapes planted globally. If you have read thus far, here is a secret message. The first Rotarian to email President Ross with the words "Secret Message Shiraz" will win a bottle of Shiraz. In Australia it is estimated that there are some 45,000 hectares of Shiraz grapes currently being grown. The best known and most expensive example of Australian Shiraz is Penfolds Grange which was first bottled by legendary winemaker Max Schubert in 1951.
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