2016 Lillian Winery Gold Series No. 5 Syrah

Lillian Winery was started in 2004 when winemaker Maggie Harrison made a small amount of Syrah from the celebrated White Hawk Vineyard. Harrison was an apprentice to Manfred Krankl at Sine Qua Non for nearly a decade, and is now an acclaimed winemaker herself. She sources grapes from the Central Coast of California. Harrison is also winemaker and part owner at Antica Terra in Oregon. Lillian makes several Syrahs.

Central Coast AVA is a huge wine producing area that extends from Santa Barbara County in the south to San Francisco in the north. With more than 100,000 vineyard acres, it includes parts of six counties near the Pacific Ocean. Nearly 20 smaller AVAs lie within the Central Coast AVA. Central Coast earned appellation status in 1985. Included in the appellation are parts of the counties of Contra Costa, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz. Nearly every grape varietal grown in California is grown somewhere in the Central Coast AVA, though Chardonnay accounts for nearly 50% of the entire wine grape crop.

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.