A late-ripening grape that demands intense sunlight. Firm structure and a wild, gamey edge define it, and in GSM blends (Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre) it supplies structure and spice. In Bandol in southern France it dominates blends that yield long-lived reds.
Native to eastern Spain, where it is called Monastrell, possibly after the town of Murviedro (now Sagunto). It travelled to Australia and California under the name Mataro. Nearly lost after phylloxera, it regained standing with the revival of Bandol in the late 20th century.
Tight in youth, sometimes with animal notes to the fore, it turns remarkably supple after a few years. It shows its real worth alongside rich, fatty meat rather than on its own. The rosé of Bandol should not be overlooked either.
As France's second-largest wine region, the Rhône produces distinctly different wine styles in the north and south. The north features elegant yet powerful wines from single-variety Syrah, while the south produces warm, generous wines from Grenache-based blends. Home to world-renowned appellations like Hermitage and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Provence is renowned as the world's premier rosé wine region. Under the Mediterranean climate, beautifully pale salmon-pink rosés are produced. The delicate, fresh flavors from blends of Grenache, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre are beloved worldwide as a summer staple. The landscape of lavender fields and blue seas adds to the region's allure.
Australia's premier wine region. Home to some of the world's oldest Shiraz vines, producing concentrated, powerful wines. Producers carrying on German immigrant traditions have established a distinctive style. Precious own-rooted vines, having escaped phylloxera, produce powerful and complex wines.