Syrah Food Pairing
Pairing food with Syrah is delightful because Syrah really is one of the friendliest wines with food. If you know the flavor profile, Syrah food pairing is simple. Syrah is spicy, fruity, big, and bold. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Syrah pairs well with foods that are also robust and flavorful. Game meats pair especially well with Syrah so you’ll see a few scattered in the Syrah food pairing chart below. Syrah pairs well with a lot of different cheeses as well.
What you’ll learn about pairing food with Syrah:
- Syrah Food Pairing Chart
- Tips to nailing your next Syrah food pairing
- What cheeses pair with Syrah
- What foods DO NOT pair with Syrah
- Best wine regions
- What does Syrah look, smell, and taste like
- Serving and storage suggestions for Syrah
31 Foods that Pair with Syrah
- Lamb chops, roast lamb, braised lamb, all lamb
- Bacon, bacon, bacon!
- Steak with peppercorns
- Baked ham
- Steak and cheese subs
- Moroccan tajine
- Pork tenderloin with raspberry sauce
- Meatloaf
- Duck breast with beetroot risotto
- Braised beef shortribs
- Pepperoni pizza
- Steak fajitas
- Veal chops (more veal wine pairings here)
- Turkey legs with cranberry sauce
- Filet Mignon
- Punjabi Goat Curry
- Rib-eye steak
- Tri-tip steak sandwiches
- Lamb kebabs
- Spare ribs with barbecue sauce
- Peking duck
- Venison Bourguignon
- Goat shwarma
- Bison burgers
- Braised rabbit in a red wine reduction with pappardelle
- Pastrami sandwich
- Salami, prosciutto, jamon
Vegetarian Food that Pair with Syrah
- Falafel
- Portobello mushroom sandwich
- Beyond Meat burger
- Pasta with Puttanesca sauce
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[mailerlite_form form_id=4]Tips to Nailing Your Next Syrah Food Pairing
When considering a food and wine pairing, you must take into account the characteristics of the wine and the food. These two elements need to be in balance. Syrah is full-bodied with medium-high tannins, alcohol, and acidity. Because it is a bold wine, the food it pairs with needs to hold its own. Syrah pairs best with foods that are robust and flavorful.
Syrah also has a lot of spice which can be accentuated with a spicy dish or complemented with a fruity or jammy element in a dish. Anything savory with black pepper and olives, or meat/game served with raspberry sauce or fruit makes for an excellent Syrah food pairing.
Syrah Cheese Pairing
When pairing Syrah with cheese, the same wine and food pairing principles apply. Go for a cheese with a strong flavor and avoid cheeses that are too delicate. Syrah is a good pairing with blue cheeses like Roquefort or gorgonzola. Pair Syrah with salty cheeses like pecorino, Grana padano, or even halloumi. Gouda, asiago, grueyere, and aged cheddar also make for a good Syrah cheese pairing. Syrah can also pair with stinky cheeses like Camembert, brie, and Affinois.
What Food Does NOT Pair with Syrah
Syrah is not a great match with delicate foods and flavors. The intensity of Syrah will overwhelm the flavors in the dish. Do not pair Syrah with seafood, white fish, or salads unless it’s a chef’s salad with lots of cheese and cold cuts, and even then…
Best Regions for Syrah
Syrah grows best in hot climates. Here are the best regions for Syrah and short little descriptions about what to expect from each region. The different styles from each region will help you decide which Syrah to pair with your meal.
Rhone Valley
Syrah is native to the Rhone Valley in the south of France. While Syrah is major partner to the Grenache grape in the southern Rhone, it is the star of the show in the northern Rhone. Syrah is the sole grape of the Cote Rotie and Cornas appellations. Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Hermitage appellations are mostly Syrah with the help from white grapes: Viognier for Saint-Joseph, Marsanne and Roussanne for Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage.
The Syrahs of the Rhone are very savory with lots of black olive, peppercorn, and even roasted meat smells. Needless to say, Rhone Valley pair perfectly with savory and roasted meat dishes. The Syrahs that get a little help from the Rhone white grapes will be more floral and less tannic. Syrahs like this can even pair with poultry like turkey or pheasant.
Barossa Valley, Australia
Unless you slept through the better part of the early 2000’s there’s no way you missed out on the Shiraz craze. I just realized that someone born in 2000 is now 21, so I’m gonna go cry and come back to this article in a minute…
Okay, I’m back. Whew! Shiraz is the Australian (and South African) name for Syrah. Shiraz = Syrah. Even though they are the same grape, Shiraz is made a bit differently. Shiraz is famous for the jammy fruit flavors like plum and raspberry. What’s great about Australian Shiraz is that there are really great values to be found. Skip over anything with “tail” in its name and you’ll find a really yum fruity easy-drinking wine.
Shiraz pairs really well with lamb and goat. The jammy flavors of Shiraz go exceptionally well with plum sauces, BBQ sauce, raspberry glazes, or any marmalade type dressings on meat or poultry.
California
Have you ever heard of the Rhone Rangers? It’s a group of winemakers in California that were focusing on the Rhone varieties of Grenache, Mourvedre, and of course Syrah. Throughout California, but especially warmer climates on the central coast, there’s some really wonderful Syrah. Syrah never did see it’s glory days in California as they had predicted. Now there’s a push to move Syrah to cooler climates to bring down the alcohol and refine that jam factor. Regardless, some of the best Syrah to be had is in Cali especially in Santa Barbara and Paso Robles.
California Syrah pairs best with steak and barbecued meats. Braised short ribs or pulled pork sandwiches would also be a great match with California Syrah.
Crete
Warning! Warning! Huge bias ahead! Look, I know I’m biased when it comes to Cretan wine but serious, we do a really good job of Syrah here. Crete has the perfect climate for it. Mediterranean island with lots of sunshine BUT we have really tall mountains to keep Syrah in check. The local red grapes of Crete are not always the boldest or most pigmented and Syrah plays a vital role in beefing them up. Even on its own here, Syrah really is gorgeous and velvety and spicy and earthy and fruity and just wonderful. Is it a coincidence that the best food pairing with Syrah is lamb and we’ve got sheep just walking around all over the place? I think not.
What does Syrah look like?
Syrah is a deep purple-blue colored grape. It grows in long bunches. The berries are small and compact. Syrah grape skins are thick which helps make them resistant to heat damage. In the glass, Syrah is opaque. You can barely see to the other side. It is a deep ruby-purple color.
What does Syrah smell like?
Syrah undeniably smells like raspberries and black pepper. Good quality Syrah will also smell like black olives, chocolate, and plums. Syrah from warmer regions will have stewed fruit aromas like strawberry jam, prunes, and tobacco. Syrah from milder climates will have blueberry, blackberry, and savory herb smells as well.
What does Syrah taste like?
Syrah is a bold and spicy wine. It is full-bodied, tannic, and can reach high alcohol levels. Syrah is simultaneously fruity and spicy on the palate. The fruit can feel jammy like raspberry jam and also taste bright like ripe plums. On the finish, Syrah always delivers freshly ground black pepper. The acidity of Syrah is present but rarely overwhelming. Syrah has a velvety plush texture.
Serving and Storage Suggestions for Syrah
Syrah serving temperature should be about 60 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 degrees Celsius. This can be achieved by sticking it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before serving it. Syrah will benefit from aeration in a decanter with a large surface area like this one. Serve Syrah in a glass with a wide bowl. Riedel makes these wine glasses specifically for Syrah.
Syrah is a wine that ages well. However, most Syrah is released when it’s ready to drink. Hold on to any Rhone Valley Syrah’s for years to come and you’ll be graciously rewarded. I know wine ageing is complicated so I made this handy dandy chart.
International Syrah Day is February 16, 2021
Are you looking for a reason to try a new Syrah? Does anyone really need a reason to drink wine? I sure don’t, but make a plan to celebrate International Syrah Day on February 16th. Don’t forget to reference the Syrah food pairing chart above and tell me how it goes!
Frequently Asked Questions about Syrah food pairing
Does Syrah pair with steak?
Syrah pairs very well with steak. It will be especially good with a peppered steak or a steak with lots of spices. 
Does Syrah go with chicken?
Syrah can pair nicely with chicken if the chicken is prepared with a demi-glaze, lots of herbs and spices, or is barbecued. Usually chicken is a little too delicate on it’s own and will be overpowered by the bold flavors of Syrah.