Syrah is a rich, full-bodied, complex, spicy, long-lived wine that thrives in the Rhone region of France and produces such famous wines as Hermitage and Cote-Rotie. In Australia and South Africa, it is called Shiraz. It is the most popular red wine of Australia. Syrah is becoming increasingly popular in California, where it is replacing the Petite Sirah. Syrah can be successfully blended with many other wine grapes; it also can be made in a variety of styles ranging from soft and medium-bodied with some berry characteristics to deeply colored, powerful wines, tasting of roasted peppers, black cherry and smoke. Like California Zinfandels, American Syrahs can be full-bodied wines but often show more spice elements and less berry-like fruit than Zinfandels.