Updated June 2026
Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. Australia and some New World lots print Shiraz; France and many US lots print Syrah. That is naming, not a second TTB class. Both are 27 CFR Part 4 wine when bottled as table wine. Typical US lots sit near 12–14% Taste adjectives are palate talk. There is no official better spelling and no 2026 ranking.
Related: Merlot vs Malbec, is Malbec sweet, Cabernet vs Pinot Noir.
Name vs grape
| Language | Note |
|---|---|
| Syrah | Same grape |
| Shiraz | Name, not a legal type |
| Typical 12–14% | Neck |
| Better crown | No ranking |
| Fortified | Neck |
Read the grape, not the spelling. Pair: pasta wine.
Sources
- 27 CFR Part 4. Same grape; regional spelling. Typical 12–14%
- NIAAA December 2025. Recat off alcohol 25.