With a long and rich History, the Shiraz also known as the Syrah has shown to create great and fantastic wines in the right conditions. It is usually grown in warmer areas and its growth has increased greatly over the recent years in different wine producing regions of the world especially in Australia and Portugal. It has also been used as a blending grape in Spain and Italy. In France, the grape is known as Syrah and is grown throughout the Rhone Valley. The wines made from it have different flavors as a result of the location of the vines, difference in soil quality and changes in slope. [Click title for more...]

Tags: introduction to wine, red wine, shiraz, syrah, the shiraz guide, wine grapes, wine history, wine regions

The appreciation of a good wine is a multi-sensory experience. Wine appreciation involves the eyes, nose, and taste buds to get the full experience. It is important to allow a red wine to breathe properly before you pour it out to taste it. Open the bottle ten or fifteen minutes before you pour the wine to give it a chance to react with the air. If a wine is poured too soon it will taste sharp and unpleasant. [Click title for more...]

Tags: aroma, bouquet, decanting, introduction to wine, palate, red wine, shiraz, syrah, the shiraz guide, wine appreciation, wine history, wine tasting