The great cépage of the Rhône valley, where in the environs of Hermitage, St. Joseph, Cornas and Côte-Rôtie, Syrah has been famous since Roman times and is resposible for some of the finest red wines in the world. Productive and resistant to both heat and cold, Syrah can be made into a wide range of styles from simple and fruity to complex, brooding and powerful.

One of her greatest attributes is to retain a certain peppery characteristic no matter where the roots have taken hold. Aromas and flavors in Old World versions can range from black fruits and white pepper to any "earthy" descriptor that you like including mushrooms, bacon, leather, game and especially, burnt rubber.