Golfers' Wines: Add Annika to the List

Many professional golfers are wine enthusiasts, and some have even gone into the wine business. Perhaps the best-known are Greg Norman and Nick Faldo; Norman owns vineyards in California and Australia, while the Faldo label is produced by an Australian vineyard.

Now, Annika Sorenstam is getting into the wine business. Sorenstam, whose passion for food and cooking is well-known, is getting her own wine. Sorenstam is teaming with California-based Wente Vineyards (whose vineyards include a Greg Norman-designed golf course) to produce a Syrah that will debut in May 2009. Its name? "Annika," of course.

Since my beverage of choice is something along the lines of a Coke Zero (Cherry varietal), I checked with About.com's Wine Guide, Stacy Slinkard, who informs that Syrah is a red wine "from the same grape varietal as a Shiraz." Her site includes a page on Syrahs and Shirazes that notes the flavor profile and best food pairings:

Flavor Profile
Shiraz wines display firm tannins (although they are typically ripe and smooth, not abrasive like younger reds can be), a fuller body, and the rich round flavors of black cherry, blackberry, plum, bell pepper, black pepper, clove, licorice, dark chocolate and smoked meat.

Food Pairings
Shiraz is great for grilled meats or veggies, wild game, richly flavored red meats, beef stew and meat lover's pizza.

Sounds good to me. Note to Annika: Please wash your feet before stomping those grapes.

See also:

• Golfers with their own wine labels

For Wine Aficionados

• About.com Wine Guide