The Same Grape??

Written by Joshua Luman

There seems to be a little confusion surrounding the Shiraz and Syrah, and the Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris. And like a first grader embarrassed to raise his hand and ask a silly question in front of the entire class, most of us are too shy or vain to ask what's the difference. It all boils down to one simple explanation... location (which is usually the root of most answers regarding questions about grape varietals).

Yes, it's true, the Shiraz and Syrah are the exact same grape. To our friends 'down unda', it is known as Shiraz. The rest of the world refers to this varietal as Syrah. Occasionally for marketing purposes some wineries outside of Australia will label their wine as 'Shiraz' to try and push sales. But although it is the same grape, differences in climate, elevation, and soil produce extremely different characteristics depending where it is grown. Australian Shiraz is known for its big and bold, spicy, peppered, 'in your face' powerful flavor. While syrah, originally from the Rhone Valley in France, tends to be smokier, earthy, and smell of tar and leather.

Tate 'The Ballbuster' Shiraz is a perfect example of delicious, classic Aussie Shiraz. Find the thickest, most marbled porterhouse you can and throw it on the 'barbie' to match up with this powerhouse red. And for a beautifully refined, old world style red, try any of the Syrahs produced by the California winery, Radio-Coteau. Their juice will knock your socks right off!

And you guessed it, Pinot Grigio (the Italian name) and Pinot Gris (French for 'gray pinot') are the exact same grape varietal, simply grown in different parts of the world. The most famous and celebrated of the Pinot Gris are the Alsatian grown grapes known for their full, lush and round flavors. Italy's crisp, dry, and minerally Pinot Grigios from Friuli are among their most sought after white wines. However, Oregon's Willamette Valley and California's Russian River Valley are among the many regions around the world beginning to make a name for themselves in the Pinot Gris world.

The next time you set out to cook anything from the ocean, take the time to pair your meal with a really fabulous Pinot Grigio from producers like Alverdi or Due Torri. Not only will it be a match made in heaven but a pair that won't break the bank either!