Bull Market for U.S. Syrah Producers - Industry Symposium Touts Varietal's Discovery Appeal, Quality and Positive Sales Forecast as Key Indicators.--2(nd) Annual Symposium Spotlights Syrah's Future, Showcases Top Producers-- SANTA YNEZ, Calif. -- Syrah might be set as the next recession-proof red, with a rally worthy of popping a few corks. Of the 75 trade/media that attended the 2nd Annual Syrah Symposium April 21-22 in Santa Ynez, Calif., 45% noted they were most interested in Syrah from U.S. producers and all (100%) noted the perception of quality was improving. "Syrah has become another Holy Grail grape variety. It keeps refining and redefining itself," noted Joe Spellman, MS, Chairman of the Court of Master Sommeliers, American Chapter, who led guests in panel discussions and technical tastings. Seven wineries presented their views, philosophies and wines, including: David Hopkins of Bridlewood Estate Winery (Santa Ynez), Eric Mohseni of Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards (Los Olivos
Los Olivos is a district of the Lima Province in Peru. It is the unofficial capital of the Cono Norte area in the city of Lima. ), Steve Beckmen of Beckmen Vineyards (Los Olivos), Sashi Moorman of Stolpman Vineyards (Lompoc), Sam Spencer of Spencer Roloson Winery (St. Helena), Bill Easton of Domaine de la Terre La Terre (The Earth) is a novel by Émile Zola, published in 1887. It is the fifteenth novel in Zola's Rougon-Macquart series. The action takes place in a rural community in La Beauce, an area of northern France. Rouge (Fiddletown) and John Freeman John Freeman could refer to:
WORLD STAGE Syrah (or Shiraz) has deep roots across the globe, with plantings in France, Australia and America leading the charge. Traditionally, French producers have held the pole position pole position Noun 1. (in motor racing) the starting position on the inside of the front row, generally considered the best one 2. an advantageous starting position Noun 1. on preferred style; however, given the same price point, symposium attendees preferred U.S. producers, with France (42%) and Australia (6%) following. More than 39% noted Syrah's "Discovery" as a principal appeal factor in the wine's upward mobility upward mobility n. The state of being upwardly mobile. upward mobility Noun movement from a lower to a higher economic and social status , noting the wine's wide range of styles, personalities and price points. Next to Pinot Noir, Syrah ranked as the most food friendly wine (42%), outpacing Cabernet Sauvignon Cab·er·net Sauvignon n. 1. A variety of black grape used to make red wine, notably in Bordeaux and the Napa Valley. 2. A dry red wine made from this grape. [French. , Sangiovese and Merlot. If sales forecasts are any indicator, U.S. Syrah seems ready for its close up. Attendees were bullish on its future, with 45% forecasting a 6% to 10% increase in the next three years. Not a single vote was checked in the "decline" box. Garnering space on wine lists and consumer palates will require more consumer education (67%) and brand advertising (21%), however. Winemakers and key restaurateurs expressed dismay over the level of knowledge consumers have about "the other red," growing regions and even the dual name - Syrah and Shiraz. What wines will make way for Syrah's expansion on the wine list or store shelf? Nearly 43% noted Sangiovese may well get the ax, followed by Merlot at 39%. The buzz surrounding Syrah is reaching a critical pitch as well. On the scale, 70% of attendees ranked Syrah's buzz at 4 to 6 out of a possible 10 - a compelling factor given the flood of red wines on the market today. Comments included the richness of the varietal va·ri·e·tal adj. Of, indicating, or characterizing a variety, especially a biological variety. n. A wine made principally from one variety of grape and carrying the name of that grape. , classic qualities, recent recognition in the U.S. market and appeal to adventuresome new drinkers. EVENT TIMELINE The event kicked off Monday, April 21, with an alfresco dinner at Beckmen Vineyards in Los Olivos. Frank Ostini of Hitching Post II drove the barbeque, serving up a traditional Santa Ynez-style feast paired to seven distinct Syrahs from participating vintners. Spellman set the stage the next day with a "State of the Grape" presentation, followed by a morning panel on "Syrah in the Vineyard: Best Viticultural vit·i·cul·ture n. The cultivation of grapes. [Latin v  tis, vine; see wei- in Indo-European roots + culture. Practices" at Zaca Mesa Winery. The beautiful vineyard
setting was upstaged by a technical tasting of components and finished
wines to demonstrate how particular Syrah clones contribute to their
final blends. Following lunch at Zaca Mesa, the Symposium moved to
Bridlewood in the afternoon for a discussion and tasting on "The
Influence of Terroir Terroir (/tεʀwaʀ/ in French) was originally a French term in wine and coffee used to denote the special characteristics that geography bestowed upon them. " in the steel tank room. A grand tasting and
gala dinner in the barrel room followed, with participants tasting
barrel samples of the 2005 Bridlewood Estates Winery Syrah Port.
Participation in the Syrah Symposium is by invitation only to the trade/media. For more information: www.syrahsymposium.com. California Table Wine, (c)2007 Bridlewood Winery, Santa Ynez, CA. All rights reserved. HISTORY A relative newcomer to the California wine scene, Syrah gained popularity within the last decade, with the state's wineries shipping 1.2 million cases in 2004. Syrah first appeared in California in the 1970s when it was planted by a group of viticulturists referred to as the "Rhone Rangers." Most of the substantial plantings occurred in the 1990s, with San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo (săn l  `ĭs ōbĭs`pō), city (1990 pop. 41,958), seat of San Luis Obispo co., S Calif., near San Luis Obispo Bay; inc. 1856. County leading at 2,571
acres of planted grapes followed by Sonoma County (1,886 acres) and San
Joaquin San Joaquin (săn wäkēn`), river, c.320 mi (510 km) long, rising in the Sierra Nevada, E Calif., and flowing W then N through the S Central Valley to form a large delta with the Sacramento River near Suisun Bay, an arm of San Francisco Bay. County (1,956 acres). Monterey County and Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. County
also have substantial plantings. In 2005, Syrah accounted for nearly
four percent (4%) of the state's total winegrape crush(*) with
147,312 tons.
Editor Note: High-resolution jpegs available. Presentation notes available at www.syrahsymposium.com. (*) California Agricultural Statistics Service (2005). |
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