Syrah, or Shiraz, was only added to the list of Austrian Quality wines in 2001. The variety originally gained fame in the Rhône Valley is a natural crossing of Dureza and Mondeuse blanche.

France, Rhone Valley

Natural crossing of Dureza x Mondeuse blanche

150.69 ha; 0.3%

Red wine grape variety


Vineyard area

Did not become officially approved in Austria as a Qualitätswein until 2001. This grape is grown internationally today and is a key variety in the warm red wine-growing regions of every continent.

A picture shows grapes of the grape variety Syrah.

Important ampelographic features

© Austrian Wine / Oberleithner

Important ampelographic features

Leaf

medium-sized, five lobes, lightly sinuated

Grape cluster

medium-sized, compact, cylindrical, with secondary clusters; berries are small with thin skins, bluish black in colour and very fragrant and juicy

Ripening

Ripening

very early
early
early to middle
middle
middle to late
late
very late

Significance & conditions

Syrah is popular as a monovarietal red wine and in cuvée blends. It is sensitive to frost and only suitable for very early-season vineyards. Relatively high yields mean that fruit needs to be restricted.

Area under vine in Austria
(as a proportion of the variety’s total area)

Click on the wine origin in the list for a breakdown into more specific regions of origin.

Total area in Austria:

The Leithaberg and Neusiedlersee wine-growing regions overlap by almost 160 ha (Rieds Hausberg and Neuberg), according to the Austrian Wine Law. This means that the listed area under vine in Burgenland is 160 ha less than the actual total area across all wine-growing regions in Burgenland.

A picture shows a person holding a glass of red wine.

Characteristics of the wine

© Austrian Wine / Blickwerk Fotografie

Characteristics of the wine

Fully ripened grapes, grown in excellent vineyards with low yields, produce deep red wines that are rich in tannins, with aromas of violets and mignonette. These wines take a long time to develop and only reach a high quality after a long period of maturation.

Source varietal specifications: Höhere Bundeslehranstalt und Bundesamt für Wein- und Obstbau (Federal College and Federal Office for Viticulture, Oenology and Fruit Growing) in Klosterneuburg, “Austria’s Qualitätswein grape varieties and their clones“ („Österreichische Qualitätsweinrebsorten und deren Klone“), 2nd, reviewed edition, September 2015

Source area under vine: Calculation by Austrian Wine based on data from BML/IACS (as at 28 June 2023). Moving annual total (MAT) from June 2022 to June 2023.

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