What is the difference between Syrah and Shiraz?
Quick answer
Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape variety. "Syrah" is used in France and by producers aiming for a Rhône-inspired style (elegant, peppery). "Shiraz" is the term used in Australia and South Africa for a typically bolder, fruitier, oakier style. The name on the label signals the winemaker's stylistic intention.
Detailed answer
There is zero genetic difference between Syrah and Shiraz — it is the exact same grape, a cross between Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche, originating in the Rhône Valley. The distinction is purely stylistic and cultural.
"Syrah" is the name used in France and by producers worldwide who seek a Rhône-inspired style: elegant, peppery, with black olive, violet, smoked meat notes, fresh acidity and moderate oak. This is the style you find in Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage and from like-minded producers in Languedoc, California and South Africa's Swartland.
"Shiraz" is the term used in Australia (where the grape arrived in 1832), South Africa and by producers going for a bolder approach: riper, jammier fruit (blackberry, plum, blueberry), deeper extraction, American oak ageing (vanilla, coconut) and often higher alcohol (14–15.5% ABV).
Some producers deliberately choose one name over the other to signal their intent. An Australian winemaker who labels their wine "Syrah" instead of "Shiraz" is typically indicating a cooler, more restrained, northern-Rhône-inspired style.
In short: the name is a style guide, not a grape guide. Read the label as a clue to what you will find in the glass.