 Prefers shallow and well drained soil  Most aromatic wines come from granite or schist  More choosy about climate  Late budder and early ripener, but can overripen quickly  Vigorous growth  Hardy to most diseases  Needs canopy management to get good quality

 Skins macerated on juice to extract color and tannin  High fermentation temperatures to extract more color and tannin  Often aged in oak  French use old oak to retain aromatics  Australians use new oak to complement flavors

 Rhone valley  Cote Rotie ▪ Steep slopes with named vineyards ▪ Two soil types – brune and blonde (clay and limestone)  Hermitage ▪ Granite hill with named vineyareds  Wind is important climatic factor in Rhone

 Australia  Wide variety of styles  Common thread is big ripe fruit  California  Home of the Rhone Rangers ▪ Group who feel California better suited to Rhone varietals

 Nose:  Floral  Fruity  Meaty  Wild herbs (herbs de provence)  Palate  Medium acidity with peppery notes  Australian is jammy fruit with vanilla from American oak

 Many matches available, dependent upon weight of the wine  Avoid French Syrah with Asian food