[Sca-cooks] Re: Wine names

[Robyn.Hodgkin at affa.gov.au]

;) I should have known that Drake would have brought this debate up to the list!   You see, I think I can safely say that until recently most Australians pronounced it Shirazz. (it is spelt Shiraz on all our bottles) But of late, there has been a movement towards calling it something like Seeraah.  This is, I gather, because the French call it that.

The debate is about the origins of the grape.  If it truly is an original French grape, then Syrah is perhaps correct - and in fact, if that is the case, the spelling of Syrah is right.  But... if it actually comes originally from the ancient Persian city Shiraz then to France, then it should actually be called Shiraz.

<shrugs> I certainly can't claim to be a wine expert; all I know is that the exaggerated French pronunciation being used on television ads is truly irritating.    For all I know they may be two entirely different grapes.  It certainly gives Sarah, Drake and I something to argue about...

Kiriel