One Grape, Two Names, Two Styles.
The ABCs of Shiraz and Syrah.

Of all the Australian contributions to the English language ("barbie," "stubby," etc.), none has had a greater impact than use of the term Shiraz. The wine's worldwide popularity has diminished use of the name Syrah, which is the exact same grape.

The dirty little secret about the use of Shiraz vs. Syrah: It's a good indicator of the wine's style. Think of it this way: If Shiraz is Mike Tyson, Syrah is Muhammad Ali.

In Australia, the weather is hot and dry, which leads to more stressed vines that yield ripe, concentrated grapes--and powerful, jammy wines. In the grape's home, France's Northern Rhône Valley, the weather is much less extreme, resulting in wines with a mix of finesse and power. Try J.L. Chave Offerus ($25) next to Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz ($12) and you'll see the difference.

Bottom line: The word Shiraz hints at a wine with big, ripe, bold fruit power and palate sweetness; Syrahs tend to show spicy, peppery aromas and flavors integrated with dark fruits like blackberries and plums.

But just keep in mind, winemakers can also use whichever word they think will sell more wine.

Do you prefer Shiraz or Syrah? Tell us below.