Sylvie’s Favorite Wines
Syrah / Shiraz
The Jet-setting, BBQ lover
Meet Sylvie, originally from France's Rhone Valley. She is a world traveller with an intense personality. She spends a lot of time in Australia for work, where she goes by Silvia. She loves warm, sunny weather and stays active with outdoor sports, though she doesn't mind cooler weather either.
She can be quite intense, but she grows more charming with age. She enjoys a quiet night in just as much as a night out with her best friend Gabrielle (Grenache) and her good friend Catherine (Cabernet Sauvignon).
In wine terms? Sylvie is Syrah, a classic fuller-bodied red originally from Rhone Valley, and it is planted widely around the world.
Outside of Rhone, you'll find great Syrah (or Shiraz) from Australia, Spain, Italy, Portugal, the US, South Africa, Argentina, and Chile. In Australia it goes by a different name too: Shiraz, where it is now the most planted red grape in the country.
Expect a full-bodied wine with medium-to-high acidity and tannins, deep purple in color. You'll pick up blueberry, black plum, and black pepper, often with savory notes running underneath.
Syrah loves the warm, sunny weather in Australia, which brings out its fuller body, more intense, ripe black fruit flavors with higher alcohol. But it does well in moderate climate of the Rhone too, where the wines lean a little more restrained. Good bottles can age well for up to 15 years.
Syrah is often blended with Grenache in the Rhone Valley, and with Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia and the US, though it can also stand entirely on its own as a single variety.
Now let's find you some bottles Sylvie would actually approve of.
Sylvie's Top Picks
We picked bottles from Sylvie's homeland and beyond. All available on Pop Up Wine Singapore. Click any wine name to shop it.
1. For a casual weeknight
McLaren Vale, Australia | $42 / bottle
Sylvie says: "Australia is one of my favorite places on earth. Violets and dark fruits up front, then black pepper and a little olive that keeps things interesting. It's certified organic and biodynamic, made by a small McLaren Vale winery. It picked up a Gold Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards along with 93 points from Halliday Wine Companion. Good wine does not need to wait for the weekend."
Pairs with: Grilled sausages, BBQ ribs, or a peppery steak
2. The bond she shares with Gabrielle
Château Maucoil : Côtes du Rhône Villages Red 2023
Rhône, France | $46 / bottle
Sylvie says: "This is what happens when Gabrielle and I get together. Her Grenache brings the strawberry and soft edges, my Syrah adds the spice and structure. Ripe plum, dried herbs, and pepper on the finish. The family who owns this estate has been growing grapes here since the 1960s, organically since 2011. Some friendships just work."
Pairs with: Herb-roasted chicken, grilled vegetables, or a charcuterie board
3. Great value-for-money
Brown Hill : Fimiston Reserve Shiraz 2017
Margaret River, Australia | $56 / bottle
Sylvie says: "Don't let the price fool you on this one. Blackberry and plum with a dusting of spice, backed by real structure, and James Halliday gave it 94 points. It comes from a small, family-run winery in Margaret River that hand-picks every grape, and you can taste the quality that comes from it. Great wines don't need to break the bank."
Pairs with: Roast lamb, mushroom risotto, or aged cheddar
4. For a proper taste of home
Equis : Equinoxe Crozes-Hermitage 2018
Rhône Valley, France | $58 / bottle
Sylvie says: "This is where I'm actually from, Northern Rhone. 100% Syrah, grown on a gravelly patch of Rhone Valley that hasn't seen a pesticide in ten years. Black fruits up front, then olives and a savory, meaty edge that is pure Northern Rhone. Robert Parker and Wine Spectator both gave it 90 points. Open this if you want a proper taste of my hometown."
Pairs with: Grilled duck breast, lentils with sausage, or mushroom tart
5. To impress at a dinner party
McHenry Hohnen : Hazel's Vineyard Syrah 2018
Margaret River, Australia | $61 / bottle
Sylvie says: "A great expression of my second home, Australia. Peppery and savory, with roasted nuts, dark cherry, and a graphite edge that lingers. It comes from a single, biodynamically farmed block called Hazel's Vineyard. Rated 3.9 out of 5 on Vivino, and the winery holds a 5 star rating from James Halliday. Pour this and let the conversation slow down."
Pairs with: Slow-roasted lamb shoulder, wild mushroom pasta, or a hard aged cheese
6. For a special occasion
Jasper Hill : Occams Razor Shiraz (Organic) 2013
Heathcote, Australia | $74 / bottle
Sylvie says: "This one comes from a cult Heathcote producer whose wines sell out on release every August. The cellar door only opens one weekend a year. Organic, dry-farmed, ungrafted old vines on ancient soil from a single vineyard. Blackberry, cherry coulis, and cassis, with black pepper, licorice, and a long menthol finish. Wine Advocate gave it 91 points, Wine Spectator gave it 94, and the winery holds a 5-star rating from James Halliday. Save this one for a night that deserves it."
Pairs with: Slow-roasted lamb, aged hard cheese, or a peppercorn-crusted steak
Syrah / Shiraz Cheat Sheet
| Body | Full-bodied |
| Color | Deep purple, intense concentration |
| Tasting notes | Blueberry, black plum, black pepper, with savory notes underneath |
| Serve at | 15–20°C |
| Best with | Lamb, BBQ meats, five-spice pork, tandoori dishes |
| Avoid with | Delicate fish or dishes with light, subtle flavors |
| Glass type | Universal glass (a generous bowl lets the full body and pepper spice open up) |
Meet Sylvie
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