In honor of Australia Day last week, and because I think syrah is most seasonally apt in the winter, I tried a Northern Rhone syrah against an Aussie shiraz. Okay, there was no shootout. Sort of a duel, but without the guns, wounds or Aaron Burr. Joseph. And the lighter alcohol was a relief from many a shiraz. MORE >>

So here I am in Ampuis at the "Discover Rhone" festival that happens only every two years. little later, I met in person Faith Wells from Hospices Du Rhone in California - I am going there for their April festivities. Also, a vertical tasting of both viognier and syrah with the ten year old wines holding up fabulously. MORE >>

Syrah has always been one to those wines I could take or leave it. While visiting Damiani Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake this past spring I tasted an excellent Syrah and I was sold. found that the Syrah's produced here in the US were smoother and not as bold as the full bodied Shiraz I had become accustomed to. MORE >>

He grows Carignan, Syrah, Mouvedre and Grenache. 80%grenach and 20% syrah from shale. The last wine is 2007 Les Trois Maries with 80% grenache, and 20% syrah from granite soil. Syrah on granite soil - normally a pure syrah is forbidden, yet he was able to get away with it. The horse is working, enjoying the sea." MORE >>

The room is full of Rhone wine fans from around the world! Christophe began by explaining the popularity of Rhone style wines - they are food friendly delicious, and increasingly many producers are organic/biodynamic. He brought two red wines, with the first being Domaine Alain Voge 2008 Cotes du Rhone Les Peyrouses. 100% Syrah. MORE >>