Take a deep dive into one of the world’s most expressive red grapes. This intensive course explores Shiraz/Syrah from its Rhône origins to its celebrated Australian forms, with a focus on how place, climate and vineyard practice shape what ends up in the glass.
You’ll compare bold Barossa styles with cooler-climate, peppery expressions, while also looking at soil, yield, fermentation and oak. A guided tasting of selected premium wines brings the theory to life, helping you build confidence in identifying style, structure and regional character.
Face to face
The Lecture
- History & Origins: Origins in Rhône Valley; journey to Australia’s signature grape status.
- Viticulture & Grape Profile: Analysis of skin thickness, tannins, and acidity.
- The Microbiome & Rotundone: New 2026 research on how soil bacteria influence peppery spice.
- Climate & Terroir: Impact of granite, schist, and clay soils on flavor; managing warm vs. cool climates. Winemaking Techniques: Open fermentation, whole-bunch complexity, and MLF.
- The Oak Influence: Comparing traditional American oak with modern French larger formats.
- Regional Comparison: Northern Rhône (elegance/structure) vs. Barossa Valley (power/old vines).
- Food & Storage: Pairing principles; cellaring potential and 2026 pricing.
Tasting
- Tasting Methodology: Systematic approach to appearance, nose, and palate.
- Flight 1 (Rhône): Exploring savoury, peppery, and meaty Syrah profiles.
- Flight 2 (Barossa): Showcasing ripe fruit, chocolate, and oak integration.
- Flight 3 (Cool Climate): Highlighting "Modern Australian" spice and elegance.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Identify Key Characteristics: Articulate the aromatic and flavour profiles of Shiraz/Syrah, distinguishing between cool-climate "pepper" and warm-climate "ripe fruit" expressions.
- Understand Biological Terroir: Explain how soil microbiomes and specific bacterial communities influence the synthesis of rotundone in regions like the Barossa and Grampians.
- Analyze Viticultural Impact: Describe how soil types (granite, schist, clay) and modern canopy management affect grape quality and wine style.
- Evaluate Winemaking Techniques: Assess the influence of whole-bunch fermentation and the stylistic differences between French and American oak aging.
- Compare Global Styles: Differentiate between the structure of Northern Rhône Syrah and the power of Australian Shiraz, specifically from the Barossa Valley.
- Apply Professional Tasting Skills: Use a systematic methodology to critically describe and evaluate Shiraz/Syrah wines.
- Recommend Pairings & Storage: Suggest appropriate food pairings and identify the cellaring potential for various styles of the grape.
- How to Drink Australian (Jane Lopes & Jonathan Ross)
