thumb|Shiraz (Syrah) grapes
Shiraz wine (Persian: شراب شیراز) refers to two different wines. Historically, Shiraz wine refers to the wine produced around the city of Shiraz in Iran. In the current era, "Shiraz" is an alternative name for the Syrah grape, mostly used in Australia and South Africa. The modern "Shiraz" grape is identical to Syrah and originated in southeast France with no established connection to the city of Shiraz.
History
By the 9th century CE, the city of Shiraz had established a reputation for producing the finest wine in the world,
The British poet Edward FitzGerald later translated the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam from Persian language, in which praise is heaped on the Shiraz wines.
Modern era
In modern Iran, Shiraz wine cannot be produced legally due to the prohibition of alcohol in Islam. Before the Islamic Revolution in 1979, there were up to 300 wineries in Iran; now there are none. As a whole, Iran is no longer a wine-producing country, although Iranian Christians are legally allowed to ferment wine.
Despite the name, there is no proven connection between the city of Shiraz and the modern-day red grape variety "Shiraz", planted in Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Canada, the United States, and some other countries. The modern Shiraz grape, now known to be identical to the Syrah grape, was brought to Australia by James Busby, the father of Australian wine. Busby travelled through Spain and France collecting vine cuttings that were the foundation of the Australian wine industry.
See also
- Persian wine
- Australian wine
- South African wine