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
149.97 ha; 0.3% of the total area under vine
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.
Important ampelographic features
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
Vine growth over the course of the year
Ripening
Ripening
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.
Characteristics of the wine
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 3 July 2024). Moving annual total (MAT) from July 2023 to July 2024.