All the medallists from the Global Syrah Masters 2024

Whether Syrah or Shiraz, this is a grape variety that offers great quality and tremendous value for money from all origins. Patricia Stefanowicz MW reports.

Syrah is an exciting and distinguished grape variety, which is why the Global Syrah Masters is an annual event that always inspires anticipation. The competition typically produces a high number of wines awarded Silver, Gold and Master medals – and this year was no exception.

Syrah’s traditional heartland is in the northern Rhône valley, but in recent decades the variety has moved further south, first into the southern Rhône and then into Languedoc-Roussillon, where the départements of Aude, Hérault and Gard now have well over half of France’s 70,000 hectares Syrah.

Australia is the 19th-century outpost for Shiraz, which remains the country’s most planted red variety, now with around 36,000ha of vineyard. In the 2024 Global Syrah Masters we had a significant number of Australian entries, with appropriately stellar results.

Mouthwatering, with brambles, blueberry and sometimes ripe plum or other red fruits, accented by signature notes of black pepper, the wines show sophistication and grace.

Very fine wines can be found from all over the country, including juicy examples from the Barossa Valley, the refined character of Clare Valley or McLaren Vale, mint-touched Coonawarra, and leathery New South Wales.

If there is a minor moan, climate change sometimes causes alcohol levels to be just a little too warming, but that is the reality in Australia. Its strength, however, is the high quality of the wines, even at affordable price points. The judges found value for money in the under-£10 price bracket and experienced true joy at £10–£15, as well as at £15–£20 and £20–£30.

That said, this year all the judges found that the real ‘sweet spot’ for Australian Shiraz is £30–£50, with wonderful wines at relatively realistic prices, where the likes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are struggling at the same level. Yangarra Estate was one of the wines that showed brilliantly here.

There are a number of Australian producers with superb ranges of wines that span various prices, from under £15 to more than £50. Wakefield Wines, Gatt Wines and Heirloom Vineyards are a few names to try for complete enjoyment across the board.

Above £50, Australian Shiraz wines are true collectors’ items and should be revered as such. Whilst drinkable (and delectable) now, lovers of Australia’s finest Shiraz should not be concerned about cellaring these fine wine for years to come. Indeed, 20 years on, they are delicious: integrated, layered and complex. Expensive wines from Philip Shaw’s Hoosegg, Château Tanunda, Cape Barren and Schild Estate all provided real joy for the judges.

There were also some outstanding wines tasted this year from New Zealand, specifically from Hawke’s Bay, near Napier on the North Island, where some examples from Church Road particularly stand out.

It is also worth looking beyond Australia and New Zealand around the globe, as the judges found some truly exciting wines from South Africa, Greece and Chile this year. Syrah/Shiraz is extending its reach, and aiming for ‘the heavens’ of wine.