West Valley Wine Group

Shiraz and Syrah are alternate names for the same (in DNA terms) dark-skinned grape variety which originated in the Rhône and dominates plantings in the valley's northern section. The Shiraz name is used in Australia and selected pockets of the New World, usually with warmer climates. Stylistic differences are usually pronounced and explain the enduring dual identities.

While Syrah/Shiraz is adaptable, and grown in numerous regions, it is primarily found in the temperate to warm viticultural areas. As of 2016, approximately 35 percent of the world's Syrah was found in France, followed by Australia with 20 percent and Spain with 10 percent. The name Shiraz has become so widely recognized and so highly marketable that it has been used to label Syrah wines in countries other than Australia. It can imply a riper, fuller style, though this is not set in stone. Similarly it does not guarantee the point of origin of cuttings used to plant a vineyard. In South Africa, the Shiraz naming convention is commonplace and in the US, South America and Israel either Syrah or Shiraz may be used depending on fashion. Even a handful of producers in France's Languedoc-Roussillon have taken to labeling their wines as Shiraz.

DNA profiling studies published in the late 1990s have shown that Shiraz/Syrah is a cross between two minor Rhône varieties: Dureza (a black-skinned grape) and Mondeuse Blanche (a white grape), neither of which today are prolifically planted. This essentially proves the varieties Rhône origins.

We have a choice of videos to watch including:

1. https://youtu.be/uHRJR4YGhqg?si=NBhq6nuG5ettNsqX - A Master Somm's Guide to Syrah - SOMM TV (18:53)
2. https://youtu.be/AHsoPSYrSzM?si=VtWe9_MwmmGQQaEp - Syrah vs. Shiraz: What's The Difference? - Quince (5:01)
3. https://youtu.be/vgsTBXzwgqE?si=WVS-kJcl_ZK9FKOo - HERMITAGE: JL CHAVE & LEGENDARY SYRAH - Our Pour Decisions (19:43)

So, pick up a bottle and watch a couple of videos. Let us know what you’re drinking and eating, and, if possible, the region from which your wine comes. Do you have any comments (positive or negative) about the videos? And, as always, tell us what’s going on in your life - what's happening with you, how you're feeling about things, updates, successes, challenges - as much or as little as you’re willing to disclose. We are in this together. And - thank goodness - we have wine!

Cheers!!

We are starting a four-week exploration of various AVAs within Napa Valley. The idea is to find a bottle of wine made from grapes grown within the AVA. You can choose any varietal or blend that you want.

Yountville is an AVA (American Viticultural Area) in California's world-famous Napa Valley. It enjoys an enviable location at the very heart of the Napa Valley, halfway between the northern shores of San Pablo Bay and the southern slopes of Mount St Helena. Yountville's top wines, made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, are some of the most sought-after in California. The few white wines made in the AVA are based on California's favorite white-wine varieties, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

The AVA surrounds the town of Yountville that lies partway between Napa town and the village of St Helena. Most of the vineyards are situated on the Napa Valley floor, although in the western part of the AVA, vines are planted on rocky, undulating slopes in the foothills of the Mayacamas mountains. Yountville is surrounded by some of Napa's most famous subregions: to the north lies Oakville, to the west Mount Veeder and to the east Stags Leap.

Although Yountville town is one of the warmer spots in this part of the valley, its vineyards, located just to the east, are in a noticeably cooler mesoclimate. The topography which makes Stags Leap and its climate so special also contribute to the relative cool of Yountville's climate. Yountville's cooler growing conditions result in elegant wines with chunky tannins and deep concentration, which can age for a long time in the bottle.

Yountville's modern-day residents include a small handful of California's wine glitterati. Dominus Estate and Domaine Chandon are just a couple of the well-known wineries to set up shop around the town. The town of Yountville itself is well known for its gourmet dining opportunities – Thomas Keller's Bouchon and Ad Hoc restaurants are both here, as is the world-famous French Laundry.

We have a choice of videos to watch including:

1. https://youtu.be/LMdcI9TP5Fo?si=Xj9Z7AwpaciHVoTL - Yountville, California - The Heart of Napa Valley Wine Country - The Vintage Estate (2:20)
2. https://youtu.be/mE6R8m5OUAs?si=RnusinuZsYNtTpXx - Exploring The Charming Town Of Yountville, California - Napa Winery Inn (1:19)
3. https://youtu.be/egdonyLY-pQ?si=yCgqq5eKf1P_fBRc - Yountville, Napa Valley. We invite you to "Taste Life Here!" - The Yountville Chamber of Commerce (3:45)

So, pick up a bottle and watch a couple of videos. Let us know what you’re drinking and eating, and, if possible, the region from which your wine comes. Do you have any comments (positive or negative) about the videos? And, as always, tell us what’s going on in your life - what's happening with you, how you're feeling about things, updates, successes, challenges - as much or as little as you’re willing to disclose. We are in this together. And - thank goodness - we have wine!

Cheers!!