Syrah

Syrah N

Name of the variety in France Name under which the variety is officially registered in the catalogue of grapevine varieties in France and under which it may be propagated and disseminated.

Name under which the variety is officially registered in the catalogue of grapevine varieties in France and under which it may be propagated and disseminated.

Syrah

Origin

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

Synonyms

Recognised alternative names that may be used to identify the propagation material of the variety in France or in other member countries of the European Union.

In France, this variety can officially be called "Shiraz" or "Serine" regarding plant propagation material. Syrah is officially designated as "Shiraz" in Cyprus, Germany, Italy and Malta.

Legal information This information indicates on which list the variety is registered (A or B), whether it is classified for wine grapes, and in which member countries of the European Union the variety is also officially registered (for more information, see the <a href="/en/reglementation">"Legislation"</a>menu).

This information indicates on which list the variety is registered (A or B), whether it is classified for wine grapes, and in which member countries of the European Union the variety is also officially registered (for more information, see the <a href="/en/reglementation">"Legislation"</a>menu).

En France, la Syrah is officially listed in the "Catalogue of vine varieties" on the A list and classified. This variety is also listed in the catalogues of other Member States of the European Union: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

Use

This information indicates the normal and statutory use for the grapes.

Wine grape variety.

Evolution of cultivated areas in France

The figures provided are taken from vineyard land registers (IVCC, ONIVIT, ONIVINS), general agricultural censuses (SCEES-INSEE) and the current computerised vineyard register (DGDDI, FAM).<br>
Regional vine planting data is available on the following site: <a href="https://visionet.franceagrimer.fr/Pages/DonneesInteractivesDocs.aspx?sousmenu=observatoire%20de%20la%20viticulture" target="">visionet</a>.

	1958	1968	1979	1988	1998	2008	2018
ha	1602	2658	12282	27041	44823	67834	65772

Descriptive elements

<p>Only the principal ampelographic elements enabling the varieties to be characterised and identified are provided. They are presented according to the descriptor code recognised by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), the Community Plant Variety Office (OCVV) and Bioversity International (for more information, see the <a href="/en/vocabulaire">"Ampelographic glossary"</a> menu).<br>
The photographs of leaves and grapes were taken in natural conditions, on the vine, in very similar situations in terms of growing conditions (sandy soil, Mediterranean coast):</p>
<ul>
<li>Domaine de l'Espiguette (IFV), Le Grau du Roi (Gard),</li>
<li>Domaine de Vassal (INRAE), Marseillan (Hérault),</li>
<li>La Gaillarde Campus (Institut Agro | Montpellier SupAgro), Montpellier (Hérault).</li>
</ul>
<p>Only a few photographs, including the tips of bunches, were taken in other conditions.</p>

The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shoot with a high density of prostrate hairs,
- the green young leaves,
- the shoots with a ribbed surface and long green internodes,
- the adult leaves with five lobes, open lateral sinuses, an open petiole sinus with sometimes naked petiole veins, short to medium teeth with convex sides, no anthocyanin coloration of veins, a sometimes goffered leaf blade, and on the lower side of the leaves, a low to medium density of prostrate hairs,
- the ellipsoid berries.

Genetic profile

Microsatellite	VVS2	VVMD5	VVMD7	VVMD27	VRZAG62	VRZAG79	VVMD25	VVMD28	VVMD32
Allel 1	131	223	239	186	188	246	240	216	239
Allel 2	131	229	239	188	194	252	240	227	271

Phenology

<p>The growth stages indicated are the result of obsrvations made at the Domaine de Vassal Estate where the set of these varieties form a collection. The results are indicated compared to the Chasselas vine variety as a reference in order to make comparisons between years and different sites. As such, for information purposes, the dates for the Chasselas B growth stage at Domaine de Vassal are as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Bud burst, 21 March (average over 50 years)</li>
<li>Grape maturity, 14 August (average over 50 years)</li>
</ul>

Bud burst: 7 days after Chasselas.
Grape maturity: mid-season, 2 weeks and a half after Chasselas.

Suitability for cultivation and agronomic production The data on suitability are the result of field observations or, if none are available, of bibliography mining and the study of bibliographic references.

The data on suitability are the result of field observations or, if none are available, of bibliography mining and the study of bibliographic references.

This variety produces long shoots that are fragile to the wind in spring and must be carefully trellised. In most cases, short pruning is sufficient in southern zones. Syrah is sensitive to chlorosis, poorly adapted to soils with high active limestone content. Then, grafting onto 110 R must absolutely be avoided. This variety ripens quickly, resulting in a relatively short véraison-ripeness period. The optimum harvest period is short and is evaluated not only by considering sugar and acidity concentrations, but also by the weight of the berries, bunches and berry analysis, and berry tasting.

Susceptibility to diseases and pests These remarks are also the result of field observations or, if none are available, of bibliography mining and study of bibliographic references.

These remarks are also the result of field observations or, if none are available, of bibliography mining and study of bibliographic references.

Syrah is not very susceptible to downy mildew but is rather sensitive to mites and grey rot, especially at the end of the ripening period. This variety has a specific decline behavior, characterized by leaf reddening combined with at the grafting point, which can in the long term cause the vine trunks to die. To date, the causes remain unknown and no disease causative agent have been identified, but significant behavioral differences between clones have been noted.

Technological potentiality

<p>The size of grape clusters and berries indicated are based on the following scales:</p>
<table id="potentiel">
<thead>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td colspan="2">Wine grape varieties</td>
<td colspan="2">Table grape varieties</td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Size</td>
<td>Bunch (g)</td>
<td>Berry (g)</td>
<td>Bunch (g)</td>
<td>Berry (g)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Very small</td>
<td>≤ 100</td>
<td>< 1</td>
<td>< 150</td>
<td>< 2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Small</td>
<td>100 - 200</td>
<td>1,5 - 2</td>
<td>150 - 250</td>
<td>2 - 3,5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Moderate</td>
<td>200 - 250</td>
<td>2 - 2,5</td>
<td>250 - 400</td>
<td>3,5 - 5,5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Large</td>
<td>250 - 400</td>
<td>2,5 - 3,5</td>
<td>400 - 700</td>
<td>5,5 - 8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Very large</td>
<td>> 400</td>
<td>> 3,5</td>
<td>> 700</td>
<td>> 8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Remarks concerning the characteristics of the wines are generally based on tastings organised by juries of professionals.</p>

The bunches are small to medium in size and the berries are small. Syrah can produce great quality red wines with a fairly high alcohol degree, that are suited to ageing. This variety gives very aromatic, fine, tannic, robust, complex (spices, violet, olive, leather-animal, etc) wines with relatively low acidity (pH is sometimes rather high, particularly on schist soils), which tend to have an intense (blue-toned) color. Syrah also produces very fruity and interesting rosé wines.

Clonal selection in France In this section, the list of certified clones is given. Information on clone conservatories is also provided.

The nine certified Syrah clones carry the numbers 470, 471, 524, 747, 1140, 1141, 1188, 1345 and 1346.

A conservatory of more than 600 clones was planted in 1995 in the French department of Drôme. An additional conservatory of 50 or so clones was planted in 2002 in the French department of Rhône.

Bibliographic references The main bibliographical sources are provided.

- Catalogue des variétés et clones de vigne cultivés en France. Collectif, 2007, Ed. IFV, Le Grau-du-Roi, France.
- Documentary collections of the Centre de Ressources Biologiques de la Vigne de Vassal-Montpellier, INRAE - Institut Agro | Montpellier, Marseillan, France.
- Dictionnaire encyclopédique des cépages et de leurs synonymes. P. Galet, 2015, Ed. Libre&Solidaire, France.
- Traité général de viticulture, Ampélographie. P. Viala and V. Vermorel, 1901-1909, Ed. Masson, Paris, France.

Description of clones certified in France In this section, the list of certified clones is given. Information on clone conservatories is also provided.

		Identity and availability					Agronomic data						Technological data						Autres informations
Clone no.	Marque	Origin	Selection	Year of certification	Agronomic references	Surface area used for propagation (year)	Fertility	Production level	Bunch weight	Vigor	Berry size	Susceptibility to grey rot	Sugar level	Color potential	Titrable acidity	Tannic structure	Aromatic intensity	Oenological suitability	New	General note	Agro-tecnic note	Note agronomique	Agronomic note	Links
470		Tarn-et-Garonne	ENTAV	1976	Côtes-du-Rhône Languedoc Provence	18.83 ha	very low	low	low	high	medium	low	high	high	medium to high	high		aromatic, concentrated wines with a good tannic structure		clone showing very few symptoms of decline. Low level of production especially under limiting circumstances. High vigor and drooping bearing. Not very compact bunches. Clone appreciated for the configuration of its bunches, its low production potential, the color and the quality of the wines obtained.
471		Drôme	ENTAV	1976	Côtes-du-Rhône Languedoc Provence	12.64 ha	medium to high	medium to high	medium	high	medium	medium	medium to high	medium to high	medium	medium to high		round wines with good tannic structure on the palate		clone generally showing very few symptoms of decline. Less compact clusters. Good maturity despite the production level.
524		Drôme	ENTAV	1976	Côtes-du-Rhône Languedoc Provence	7.37 ha	high	high	high		medium to high	medium	medium		medium			representative wines of the variety		clone showing very few symptoms of decline. Less compact clusters.
747		Tarn-et-Garonne	ENTAV	1981	Côtes-du-Rhône Languedoc Sud-Ouest	16.57 ha	medium to high	high	medium to high		high		low to medium	low to medium	medium	low to medium		representative wines of the variety		clone showing very few symptoms of decline
1140		Drôme	CA26 - IFV	2012	Côtes-du-Rhône		medium to high	low to medium	low	medium	low	low to medium	high	medium to high	medium	high		wines appreciated for their olfactory quality and the balance on the palate		clone showing very few symptoms of decline. Appreciated for the quality of the wines obtained.
1141		Rhône	CA26 - IFV	2012	Côtes-du-Rhône		low to medium	low	low	medium	low	low to medium	high	medium to high	medium	high		wines appreciated for their olfactory quality and the balance on the palate		clone showing very few symptoms of decline. Appreciated for the quality of the wines obtained.
1188		Rhône	CA26 - IFV	2012	Côtes-du-Rhône		high	medium	low	medium	low	low to medium	high	medium to high	medium	high		Wines appreciated for their olfactory quality and the balance on the palate.		clone showing very few symptoms of decline. Appreciated for the quality of the wines obtained.
1345		Haute-Saône	GIE Alienor - IFV	2020	Languedoc		medium to high	medium	medium to low		medium		medium	medium to high	medium	medium to high		wines appreciated for their olfactory quality		clone showing very few symptoms of decline. Appreciated for the quality of the wines obtained.
1346		Haute-Saône	GIE Alienor - IFV	2020	Languedoc		medium to high	medium	medium to low		medium		medium	medium to high	medium	medium to high		wines appreciated for their olfactory quality		clone showing very few symptoms of decline. Appreciated for the quality of the wines obtained.

Note

PDF export

Catalogue of grapevines cultivated in France