Syrah Plants

Syrah Plants

Origin

This variety is seemingly originally from the northern Côtes du Rhône or the Dauphiné region. Based on published genetic analyses, it is the result of crossbreeding between Mondeuse blanche B and Dureza N.

Synonymy

In France, this variety can officially be called "Shiraz N" or "Serine N" with regard to plant propagating material.In the European Union, Syrah N can officially be called by other names: Shiraz (Germany, Italy, Cyprus, Malta), Sira (Bulgaria).

Regulations

En France, la Syrah N is officially listed in the "Catalogue of vine varieties".

This vine variety is likewise listed in the Catalogues of other European Union member states: Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Portugal and Slovenia.

Use

Wine vine variety

Phenology

Bud burst: 7 days after Chasselas.
Grape maturity: period II, 2 and 1/2 weeks after Chasselas.

Suitability for cultivation and agronomic production

This variety produces long and fragile shoots with regard to spring winds and must be carefully trellissed. In most cases, short pruning is sufficient in southern zones. Syrah N is a variety which is sensitive to chlorosis, poorly adapted to soils with high active limestone content. Blending with 110 R must absolutely be avoided. This variety ripens quickly, which translates by a relatively short véraison-ripeness period. The optimum harvest period id short and is evaluated not only be sugar and acidity content, but also by the weight of the berries, grape cluster and berry analysis and berry tasting.

Sensitivity to diseases and pests

Syrah N is rather sensitive to mites and grey rot, especially at the end of the ripening period. This variety has a specific vine stock decline behavior characterized by foliar reddening accompanied by cracks at the grafting points, which can in the long term cause the vine stocks  to die. To date, the causes remain unknown and no pathogenic agents have been identified, but important behavioral differences between clones have been noted.

Technological potential

Grape clusters are small to moderate in size and the berries small. Syrah N can produce top quality red wine with a good alcohol degree, and capacity for ageing. These wines tend to have an intense  (bluish) color, are very aromatic, fine and with complex nuances (violet, olive, leather-animal, etc), tannic, robust with relatively low acidity (pH is sometimes rather high, particularly on schist soils). Syrah N likewise produces very fruity and interesting rosé wines.

Clonal selection in France

The 12 approved Syrah N clones carry the numbers 100, 174, 300, 470, 471, 524, 525, 747, 877, 1140, 1141 and 1188. A conservatory with over 600 clones was set up in 1995 in the Drôme. An additional conservatory including 50 or so clones was set up in 2002 in the Rhône.

Source: Plantgrape