Cabernet Sauvignon vs Shiraz

It is therefore extremely interesting to compare them to understand their specific characteristics and analyze their behavior according to the place they come from.

But before getting into the subject, it’s worth specifying a little note about Syrah or Shiraz to avoid confusion. They are the same wine and the two names are indeed interchangeable, but Syrah is the French name and the one used in the Old World, while Shiraz is what Australians call it.

And now, let's see in detail the Cabernet Sauvignon vs Shiraz comparison to understand which of these wines best suits your taste.

Cabernet Sauvignon vs Shiraz

The Shiraz vs Cabernet Sauvignon observation is extremely interesting because these two red wines have many facets in common although they show two different personalities.

Similarities

The Cabernet Sauvignon vs Syrah comparison finds many similarities. Both are dry red wines with medium, comparable acidity, and full body.

The vines from which they come find their ideal conditions in warm climates with moderate temperatures and little rain.

They have slightly different color shades but are similar in intensity and depth.

Both are mainly produced in two styles which essentially depend on the climate and terroir, and they both cope well with oak aging.

These are wines capable of aging for many years and come in a very wide range of prices, from wines for everyday use to those of extraordinary quality with scary price tags.

Difference between Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon

The origins of the two vines are different, and although they have similar preferences in terms of climate, their preferred habitats are different: Syrah or Shiraz excels in the Rhône Valley and Australia, while Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux and the United States.

Cab Sav vs Shiraz is however more popular and more widespread.

Although falling into the same category, Shiraz wine vs Cabernet Sauvignon aromas are different and Shiraz has above all spicier, peppery notes.

In the Shiraz vs Cabernet Sauvignon taste comparison, the former is more captivating, juicier, and with softer tannins, while the latter is more austere.

Comparison chart: Shiraz vs Cabernet

	Cabernet Sauvignon	Shiraz
Tasting notes	Exhuberant and powerful. Full and deep with notes of forest red fruits, herbs, tobacco, olives, earthy and balsamic aromas.	Deep and powerful. Full-bodied with peculiar spicy notes and red fruit aromas.
Sweetness	Dry	Dry
Body	Full	Full
Acidity	Medium	Medium
Tannins	Medium to high	Medium to high
Alcohol	High	High
Age worthiness	5 to 30 years	5 to 15 years and more
Cost	$8 to $1000 or more	$10 to $3000 or more
Food pairing	Red meat, especially grilled and with peppery sauces. Flavorful and rich vegetarian dishes.	Red meat, grilled, stewed, and with spicy sauces. Flavorful spicy preparations. Lamb.
Serving temperature	15-20°C / 60–68°F	15-20°C / 60–68°F

Cabernet Sauvignon vs Shiraz taste

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine with an exuberant personality. The aromatic profile is complex and recalls the scents of the forest: blueberries, currants, blackberries, and then traces of undergrowth, earthy notes, plums, eucalyptus, tobacco, and olives.

On the palate, it is rich, full, and powerful, with firm tannins and a remarkable structure. With aging, Cabernet comes at its best as it loses some of its vigor to become incredibly fine, balsamic, and full of spicy tertiary aromas while maintaining a solid and compact structure.

Shiraz

Shiraz wines are voluminous and bold, deep in color.

Its aromatic profile is characterized by a great richness of aromas which include intense notes of pepper and chocolate followed by blueberries, forest berries, currants, more spices, tobacco, and a final touch of licorice, and cocoa.

On the palate, it is warm, sumptuous, tannic and full-bodied, very expressive, and dense. The tannins are soft and round and the finish is long with characteristic plum nuances.

Origin and history

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon originates from the Bordeaux wine region, in France and more precisely it has been cultivated extensively and intensively in the Medoc area since the end of the 18th century. It is believed to come from a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.

Shiraz

Despite the many legends about the origin of Syrah, DNA analysis in 1998 proved that this grape variety comes from the crossing of two rare French vines: Mondeuse Blanche and Mondeza. The origins are probably very ancient, and it was known since the time of the ancient Romans.

Where are they produced and in which styles?

Cabernet Sauvignon

The best Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines in the world come from the Bordeaux region, in particular the Médoc area (Haut-Médoc), on the left bank of the Garonne river, where this grape variety finds ideal conditions for perfect ripening.

Cabernet Sauvignon is also very popular in the rest of the world.

In California, it is especially common in Napa and Sonoma Country, where the mixed clayey soils rich in minerals and the hot, dry climate give rise to fruity and full-bodied Cabernets, with different characteristics depending on the sub-areas.

In Chile, the Maipo Valley, characterized by a Mediterranean climate and by a difference in altitude of the vineyards from 500 to 1000 m, is the home of tsome of the best Cabernet Sauvignon of South America.

In Australia, it is present in the Barossa Valley at the southern end of the country where it produces intense and full-bodied wines.

It is also popular in Spain, South Africa, Argentina (Mendoza), and New Zealand (Hawkes's Bay).

Shiraz

The traditional production area of Shiraz is the Rhone Valley, with the northern part hosting the best appellations, such as Hermitage. Here the cool climate and the steep and rocky slopes guarantee ideal conditions for the growth and development of this variety.

In the southern Rhône valley, it is typically vinified together with Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Cinsault.

Shiraz was imported into Australia in 1832, quickly becoming one of the symbolic vines of the oceanic country, in a style that is certainly different from the wines of the Old World. European wines are usually less concentrated, more elegant, and with finer tannins. Australian ones tend to be more full-bodied and alcoholic, with more marked and mature aromas resulting from different climatic conditions and terroirs. The Barossa Valley can be considered the reference point for Australian Shiraz production.

In the American continent, Shiraz is widespread in California, especially the Napa Valley, Chile, and Argentina.

Sweetness/dryness comparison

When talking about sweetness, there is no real difference between Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Alcohol content comparison

Red wines made of Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz grapes normally show quite a high alcohol content of 13 to 15 percent, and they give a warm feeling to the palate.

Food pairing

In terms of food pairings, the comparison of red wine Shiraz vs Cabernet Sauvignon doesn’t show many differences. These two wines are great with meat, but the subtle differences can be seen in the specific dishes.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful, substantial wine with character, and vigorous tannins. It is a wine often defined as ‘carnivorous’ due to its flavors and intense personality and in any case suitable for pairing with hearty dishes with a marked fat tendency.

Perfect with grilled or barbecued pork and red meats, and with rich dishes such as roasts, braised meats, game, and flavored meats accompanied by various sauces and aged soft or hard cheeses.

Its aromas also make it excellent with truffles and mushrooms (especially those stuffed) and with hearty vegetarian dishes such as vegetarian chili, eggplant parmesan, Mac & Cheese, and vegetarian burgers.

Shiraz

The typical spiciness and audacious character of Syrah go perfectly with grilled or stewed red meat, and with spicy sauces, but also with game and lamb and with many hot South American meat-based recipes like Chili con carne.

The pairing with aged cheeses like Tuscan pecorino is delicious and made even more succulent by the sumptuous roundness of the wine. Syrah wines are also excellent with savory cured meats such as Cinta Senese cured ham, Italian Coppa or Capocollo, or Chorizo.

An unusual pairing may involve meat dressed with chocolate sauces, as the wine cocoa notes may create a delicious match.

Wines to try under $50

Here are a few label suggestions to fully understand the Syrah vs Cabernet comparison, and the differences these wines show based on terroir and climate.