Syrah in tribute to fast-growing worldwide popularity
Bordeaux, 4 May 2016 – Shiraz/ Syrah takes centre-stage in first dedicated grape variety day at world’s leading wines & spirits event.
Vinexpo Hong Kong 2016 salutes the growing popularity of Shiraz wine at the world’s premier wine & spirits event from May 24-26. A ‘Shiraz Day’ on May 26 features the multi-facetted grape variety with numerous tastings, food and wine pairings, as well as a conference, masterclass and ‘Best in Show’ contest.
Producers from all around the world including Australia, South Africa, and France are participating in the event and lectures will provide updates on the variety and where the modern-day boom in popularity of the grape began.
“Shiraz Day, will be the first-ever tribute to a single grape variety at Vinexpo and aims at further increasing business opportunities around a varietal that offers a lot of potential. Shiraz Day should prove especially enriching to industry professionals”, said Vinexpo CEO, Mr. Guillaume Deglise.
“CAN SHIRAZ BECOME THE NEXT TREND IN ASIA” – CONFERENCE
A morning conference entitled “Can Shiraz become the next trend in Asia”, will explore business opportunities for Shiraz producers. The panel of exporters includes Robert Hill-Smith, Chairman of Yalumba, South Australia; Nelson Chow, President of the Hong Kong Sommelier Association and Vice-President of A.S.I. Asia & Oceania ; and Ronald Brown, founder of Maverick wines, South Australia. The conference will be led by Andrew Caillard, Fine Wine Principal/ Pinacle Drinks (Woolworth’s).
SHIRAZ\SYRAH MASTERCLASS
World famous wine magazine Decanter is presenting a Syrah masterclass “Syrah/Shiraz – an international expression of a noble grape” conducted by wine expert and Decanter content director John Stimpfig where iconic Syrah producers Peter Gago (Chief winemaker/ Penfolds), Phillipe Guigal (General Manager and winemaker/ E. Guigal), Eduardo Chadwick (Owner/ Vina Errazuriz), Stefano Frascolla (Owner/Tua Rita), Matt Stafford (Chief winemaker/ Craggy Range), Tim Steinke (Representative/ Betz Family winery) will present their wines. Entry to this event is priced HK$250.
BLIND TASTING – BEST IN SHOW CONTEST
A silent tasting challenge co-organized by the French wine contest “Citadelles du Vin” invites visitors to blind taste Shiraz/ Syrah wines from around the world and elect their favourite. The winner of the contest will be announced later that day.
SYRAH & FOOD PAIRING WITH DEBRA MEIBURG
Acclaimed Master of Wine Debra Meiburg is guiding a workshop on pairing Syrah with Asian cuisine – exploring the influence of terroir in various countries, and explaining the theories of food and wine pairings using different Asian fares, also priced HK$300.
‘Shiraz Day’ details are at www.vinexpohongkong.com/program/34611/
ABOUT SHIRAZ
Shiraz is named after the ancient Persian city of Shiraz, once renowned for producing the finest wine in the Middle East. But the modern-day red wine known as “Shiraz” is not related to the city’s legendary Shiraz varietal, which was white.
The name is a modern homonym – popularised in Australia – for the grape variety Syrah, originating from the northern Rhône Valley in France. Syrah, described as a tannic, purple, sharp wine that matures splendidly, remains the main grape of the northern Rhône, associated with classic wines such as Hermitage, Cornas and Côte-Rôtie – although like most other French appellations (AOCs) and regions, there is no tradition of varietal labelling. In southern Rhône it is part of the blends of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Côtes du Rhône, usually with Grenache.
But the popularity of Syrah/Shiraz today extends worldwide, as the world’s 7th most grown grape variety. Besides France and Australia, it is successfully produced in countries like Chile, South Africa, and Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand, California, and Washington State. Syrah is also grown in some regions of Italy.
