Cheers to February!

There are two reasons to celebrate with a bottle this month, says resident wine expert David Carne. Of course, it’s Valentine’s ¬– but it’s also International Syrah day!

As far as I’m concerned, there are two important dates in February and they both occur within 48 hours of each other. On the 14th it’s Valentine’s Day, and just two days later is International Syrah day. And, while we typically associate Valentine’s Day with sparkling or Rosé wines, Syrah is actually a great choice to accompany your Valentine’s meal.

ABOUT SYRAH

The Syrah grape is likely a grandchild of Pinot Noir and has small egg-shaped deep purple berries and thick skins. It also has high levels of both sugar and acid. All this means that it is capable of producing rich fruity, bold, tannic wines with high levels of alcohol. Typical flavours/aromas tend to be of blueberries, blackcurrant, blackberries, black cherry, plum, violets, bacon, chocolate, pepper, liquorice, and tobacco.

Apparently, this grape is full of antioxidants and so may well be looking after our hearts when consumed in moderation. What else would you expect from a Valentine’s wine?! And depending on the style of the wine, it is usually a good choice to pair with game, red meat, mushrooms and cheeses. It can even handle a little spice. So, if your Valentine date includes steak frites, roasted meat, something with mild Asian spices or a cheese board, this might just be a great wine of choice.

BLENDING IN

There is a misconception which some people have that blended wines are lower quality ones. While it is true that many poor-quality wines are blends, some of the best quality wines in the world are in fact blends as well. Syrah is frequently blended with Grenache, Mourvèdre and other varieties to produce wines such as the infamous Châteauneuf du Pape, Côte-Rôtie, and Côtes du Rhône wines, as well as with Sangiovese and other varieties to produce the so-called ‘Super Tuscan’ Italian wines. In this context Syrah helps to add body and structure to the wine (or more weighty mouth feel), as well as black fruit flavours.

A GRAPE BY ANOTHER NAME

It might surprise you to learn that the Syrah and Shiraz grapes are in fact the same grape. Syrah tends to be more widely used in France, where the styles of wines are slightly acidic, medium bodied and slightly savoury. In contrast, due to the warmer climate, Shiraz wines tend to be rich, bold, fruity styles of wine. Generally, whether a wine is labelled Syrah or Shiraz will indicate which of the two styles it has been made in.

SURPRISING SPARKLE

Speaking of Shiraz wines, it is possible to get hold of sparkling Shiraz. These wines are usually from Australia and tend to have a fruity, full-bodied style and often have a slight sweetness (while still being dry in style) which balances out the tannin. These wines can be made using the champagne method or the prosecco (tank) method of wine making, which will give them slightly different flavour profiles.

So, whether you are celebrating your Valentine’s Day with someone special or opt to celebrate Syrah day instead or as well, why not take a look at my Top Picks of the Month…

DAVID’S TOP PICKS OF THE MONTH

Something sparkling:
Morrisons The Best Crémant De Limoux ¬– £12, Morrisons.
Green apple, citrus notes of lemon curd, biscuit, honey and subtle floral notes of white blossom. Slightly creamy with a nice feel on the palette.

Something fresh and fruity:
Villa Maria Reserve Sauvignon Blanc – £11, ASDA.
This classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has notes of passionfruit, lemongrass, lime, guava and melon. Some well-balanced acidity, minerality, and a good length finish.

Something big and bold:
Penfolds ‘Koonunga Hill Seventy-Six’ Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon 2019/21 ¬– £16,99, Majestic.
Think dark fruits such as plum, blackberry, blackcurrant and blueberry, subtle red cherry, chocolate, vanilla, and spice. This will definitely tick the big and bold box.

Something classic:
Chapoutier Les Meysonniers Crozes-Hermitage 2022 – £22.99, Majestic.
If you’re looking to splash out on some classical Syrah, this is a good example from a great winemaker, without the very eye-watering prices of the Northern Rhone. Crozes-Hermitage wines tend to represent good quality to price ratio. This one has notes of black fruits – cherry, plum, blackberry, with white pepper and spice notes.

Something English:
Chapel Down Bacchus, 2023 – £13.50, The Wine Society.
Aromas of elderflower, herbaceous nettle notes, green apple, lime, melon, pineapple, grapefruit and gooseberry, fresh acidity, and a light delicate finish. Fans of crisp refreshing Sauvignon Blanc may well like this one.

Something different:
Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Shiraz NV – £8.99 Waitrose
For those who want to try a red sparkling Shiraz, this is a typical example of the style. This one is a prosecco (tank) method wine. Think red fruit flavours such as raspberry, citrus notes, hints of spice and pepper, with a slightly creamy flavour but with the sensation of bubbles and a berry flavour on the finish.

David Carne is a Wines and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualified wine expert and author of the alottowineabout.com website where you can find more articles on wine. To find out more about fun informal wine tasting events and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses online, in Birmingham and Warwick contact Birmingham Wine School, an independent wine education company, at www.birminghamwineschool.com