California Syrah: Not the Next Big Thing, But Better For It?

by Talia Baiocchi Mar 14, 2011, 11:10am EDT

Syrah on the hang in the fogged-in Clary Ranch Vineyard, one of the coolest (and best) Syrah sites in the state.
Nathan Roberts of Arnot-Roberts and Pax Mahle of Wind Gap.
The Griffin's Lair Vineyard in Sonoma's Petaluma Wind Gap, a site where both Wind Gap and the Arnot-Roberts source some of their best Syrah. [source: Arnot-Roberts]
Bob Lindquist of Qupe, one of Syrah's pioneers in the Central Coast, who continues to make some of the best Syrah in the state. [source: Qupe]
Peay Vineyards in the Sonoma Coast is famous for their Pinot Noir, but also makes some of the best cool climate Syrah in Sonoma. [source: Peay]
The Petaluma Wind Gap [source: Petaluma Visitors Program]
Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts, of Sonoma's Arnot-Roberts. (source: Arnot-Roberts).
Vineyards in the Petaluma Wind Gap, 1877.
Wells Guthrie of Copain, one of the finest producers of Syrah from Mendocino County.
Mendocino's Hawkes Butte Vineyard, one of Copain's great Syrah sites.

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