Sheraz?

[Thomas]

The history cited above has been the general information, but lately new findings dispute it, mainly that the syrah grape is from another French variety, the name of which I cannot remember. It's that old DNA research again, and I believe we have something about this story in the "Rhone Variety" forum.

Also, Iran (Persia) has been producing wine since its birth as a civilization; in fact, the discovery of grape vine cultivation for wine developed in the area that now touches the borders of Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, et al. In the nineteen seventies I lived in Iran, and boy did they make good Riesling in the north and Shiraz in the south. Although Iran is a Muslim religious state that has banned alcohol consumption, in 1997 the country produced more than half a million tons of grapes, and they can't eat all that...

Incidentally, as with some Christians and their interpretation of the Christian Bible, some Muslims claim the Koran prohibits wine, but many interpretations of the Koran actually show that it merely discourages the consumption of wine, and of course it promises a land of "milk, honey and wine..." to the faithful--but only after they kick-off.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 06-06-2002).]