Syrah Around the World
In its birthplace of the Northern Rhône Valley, particularly in Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie, Syrah produces wines of incredible depth and complexity, displaying savory notes of black olive, pepper, and smoked meat alongside dark fruit. Australia's warmer regions like Barossa Valley produce rich, full-bodied expressions, while cooler sites reveal more elegant styles that bridge Old and New World character. This chameleon-like grape has a remarkable ability to reflect its terroir while maintaining its distinctive character. I find that this is also the reason why many people are confused when it comes to appreciating this varietal
Syrah in the Petaluma Gap
In the Petaluma Gap, Syrah is particularly well-suited and loves the cool, windy afternoons that define our region. The Gap's signature afternoon winds funnel through the opening between the Sonoma Mountains and coastal hills, creating ideal growing conditions. The marine influence from the Pacific Ocean moderates temperatures and preserves the grape's natural acidity while allowing for full flavor development.
Syrah's forgiving nature makes it an excellent choice for this sometimes-challenging terroir. The variety's natural drought tolerance and adaptability to varied soil conditions allow it to thrive in the Gap's diverse vineyard sites, from hillside slopes to valley floors. This resilience, combined with its ability to maintain quality even in difficult vintages, makes Syrah a reliable performer in our vineyard.
The diurnal temperature variation is particularly beneficial for Syrah—warm days promote sugar accumulation and flavor development, while cool nights preserve acidity and prevent over-ripening. This creates wines with excellent balance and aging potential, displaying dark fruit, white pepper, olive tapenade, and smoky minerality that reflects the area's diverse soils.
Our Approach at Keller Estate
At Keller Estate, our Syrah benefits from the Gap's signature afternoon winds that sweep across our property. We produce two distinct expressions: our traditional Syrah captures the pure expression of the variety, while our co-fermented Syrah incorporates 5-6% Viognier, following the classic Côte-Rôtie tradition. This co-fermentation adds aromatic lift, enhances color stability, and contributes complexity while maintaining structural integrity. I also find it gives the wine a long lovely mid-palate, I refer to it as a corset for the wine!
The Petaluma Gap's marine influence is crucial for preserving the bright, natural acidity that makes our Syrah so distinctive and food-friendly, even as the grapes achieve full phenolic ripeness.
Our Winemaking Philosophy
Our winemaking emphasizes careful extraction and gentle handling to preserve the elegance our terroir provides. Cold soaking precedes fermentation, and punch-downs are carefully managed to avoid over-extraction. We produce Syrah with the gentle hand of a Pinot Noir producer.
Aging occurs in French oak barrels with a balance of new and neutral wood; Syrah loves new oak. We focus on preserving the natural acidity and bright fruit character through minimal intervention techniques, ensuring each wine develops its full potential while maintaining the fresh, vibrant quality that reflects both the Petaluma Gap's unique climate and our commitment to expressing our exceptional site.
