Results of the 2017 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)

Syrah/Shiraz

Intro by Treve Ring

Que Syrah, Syrah.

Or is that Que Syrah, Shiraz?

Whatever will be, will be, when it comes to naming this ancient grape. Though producers were using Syrah to differentiate more ‘old world’, savoury styles, and Shiraz to denote ‘new world’, fruity, styles, the lines have blurred, and you can’t predict the wine based on name alone. No matter how it’s called, however, you can expect the grape’s characteristic black fruit and black pepper notes, with common dark florals, higher tannin and anise hints. Syrah is late budding, very deep in colour and high in anthocyanins, indicative of texture, longer aging potential and making friends with oak.

Syrah is one of the star grapes of the southern Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys (as seen through the top medal winning wines at this year’s NWACs) though there are pockets in Ontario where the grape is protected enough from winter and warm enough through the growing season to thrive (hence Creekside’s Platinum medal for their 2013 Estate Syrah). Personally, I think of it as the red grape with the most potential for brilliance in BC, making the most of slopes, rocky soils, sunny days and brisk, but not vine-deadly cold winters.

Burrowing Owl 2015 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Creekside 2013 Estate Syrah , Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Lake Breeze 2014 Syrah Torok Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Daydreamer Amelia 2015, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Hester Creek Syrah-Viognier 2014, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Kacaba 2015 Reserve Syrah / Signature Series, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Laughing Stock 2015 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Le Vieux Pin 2015 Syrah Cuvée Violette, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Maverick 2014 Syrah Bush Vine, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Nk’Mip Cellars 2014 Qwam Qwmt Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Oliver Twist 2013 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
TIME Estate Winery 2013 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Backyard Vineyards 2014 Reserve Syrah, British Columbia
Blasted Church 2014 Cross to Bear, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Daydreamer Marcus Ansems Shiraz 2015, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Kacaba 2014 Silver Bridge Vineyard Syrah Silver Bridge, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Kismet 2015 Reserve Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Kismet 2015 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
La Frenz 2015 Syrah Rockyfeller Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Moon Curser 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Mt. Boucherie 2014 Syrah Winemaker’s Reserve , Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Orofino 2016 Wild Ferment Syrah , Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Poplar Grove 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Sandhill 2014 Syrah Vanessa Vineyard, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
See Ya Later Ranch 2014 Rover, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
The Hatch Crown + Thieves 2013 Broken Barrel Syrah, British Columbia
Vanessa Vineyard Syrah 2013, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Wayne Gretzky Okanagan 2014 Signature Series Shiraz, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Bench 1775 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Black Hills 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Black Market 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Black Sage 2014 Shiraz, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Black Swift 2014 Syrah Long Road, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
C.C. Jentsch 2015 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Church & State 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Corcelettes 2015 Syrah, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Deep Roots 2015 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Desert Hills 2011 Syrah 3 Boys Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Hillside 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2014 Shiraz Sunrock Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Kacaba 2014 Terraced Vineyard Syrah Terraced Vineyard, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Kacaba 2015 Founder’s Select Syrah, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Lang Vineyards 2015 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Lunessence 2015 Winemaker’s Cut Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Magnotta 2015 Shiraz Limited Edition, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Mission Hill 2014 Reserve Shiraz, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Mission Hill 2014 Terroir Collection Crosswinds Syrah #23, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Painted Rock 2013 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Painted Rock 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Perseus 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Red Rooster 2014 Reserve Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Road 13 Vineyards  2014 Similkameen Collective Syrah Viognier, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Road 13 Vineyards 2015 Syrah, British Columbia
Stag’s Hollow 2014 Renaissance Syrah Amalia Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Stag’s Hollow 2015 Syrah Amalia Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Thornhaven 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tightrope 2015 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tinhorn Creek 2014 Oldfield Reserve Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Trius 2015 Shiraz, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Volcanic Hills 2014 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia