16. What is the difference between Syrah and Shiraz?

Let’s begin with the obvious: Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. Genetically, there’s no difference. But when someone picks one term over the other, they’re telling you more than just what’s in the bottle—they’re hinting at how it’s been grown, how it’s been made, and how they want you to think about it. So while “Syrah” and “Shiraz” are technically twins, they’ve grown up in very different households.