Syrah also known as
Shiraz is a dark-skinned
grape variety grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce
red wine. DNA profiling in 1999 found Syrah to be the offspring of two obscure grapes from southeastern
France,
Dureza and
Mondeuse blanche. Syrah should not be confused with
Petite Sirah, a synonym for
Durif, a cross of Syrah with
Peloursin dating from 1880.