They say two are better than one. Together Dureza and Mondeuse Blance, two ancient varietals, created the beloved Syrah. While neither of the original grapes were popular before the combination, they created a grape that is now the 6th most planted around the world. Its popularity is no surprise when you consider how diversely Syrah can be paired with foods. Its pairings range from grilled or smoked meet to stewed fishes to hard and soft cheeses. Another special characteristic about Syrah is its ability to evolve in a bottle over the years, creating some of the darkest full-bodied wines in the world. Syrah is known for its dark fruit flavors: blueberry, plums, black cherry, blackberry. It is also known for its spice. Your mouth will first be greeted by a burst of fruit-forward flavors and will then be left with a spicy, peppery aftertaste. In the world today, Syrah is most prominently grown in France. It is the only red wine grape permitted to be planted in the Northern Rhone Region. Often winemakers will try to create a more midpalate wine and will blend Syrah with other grapes. In France, Syrah is commonly blended with Grenache and Mourvedre to create the famous Côtes du Rhône blend. One last fun fact about Syrah is that its high levels of tannins make it a wine with one of the highest levels of antioxidants. Delicious and health-benefiting! To learn out more about Syrah, explore these links: https://vinepair.com/wine-101/learn-about-syrah-shiraz-wine/http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-topics/wine-educational-questions/grapes-for-wine-making-flavor-characteristics-explained/syrah-wine-grapes-flavor-character-history/
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