Is Zinfandel the same as Shiraz?

Although these two wine grapes are Zinfandel and Shiraz that grow in different regions, they show unique flavor profiles. The zinfandel variety from California is known to make wines with strong fruit tastes like blackberry and raspberry, having a spicy character with pepper and cinnamon. Despite its origin in Iran, the grape that produces Shiraz, otherwise known as Syrah in its other home countries, from the French Rhône Valley produces wines with dark fruit characteristics such as plums and blackcurrants, and sometimes pepperiness is included as a complement to fuller body. Although they have contrasting tastes, both varieties are loved by wine lovers just for their character and array of applications in winemaking.