LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Shiraz
built 655 days ago
The King Who Refused His Title Born in Shiraz in 1705, Karim Khan was the founder of Zand dynasty in Iran. Of humble tribal origin, Karim Khan became one of the generals of his predecessor, Nader Shah. In the chaotic aftermath of Nader?s assassination in 1747, Karim Khan became a major contender for power but was challenged by several adversaries. In order to add legitimacy to his claim, he in 1757 placed on the throne the infant Shah Ismail III, the grandson of the last official Safavid king. Ismail was a figurehead king, real power being vested in Karim Khan, who never claimed the title of shahanshah (king of kings) but used that of vakil (regent). He believed that the Shah was just an ordinary person who lived among ordinary people.
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Shiraz is an important centre for Iranian culture and has produced a number of famous poets. Saadi, a 12th and 13th century poet was born in Shiraz. He left his native town at a young age for Baghdad to study Arabic literature and Islamic sciences at Al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad. When he reappeared in his native Shiraz he was an elderly man. Shiraz, under Atabak Abubakr Sa'd ibn Zangy (1231-1260) was enjoying an era of relative tranquility. Saadi was not only welcomed to the city but he was highly respected by the ruler and enumerated among the greats of the province. He seems to have spent the rest of his life in Shiraz.
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Shiraz rugs originate from Shiraz, located in the Province of Fars, just south of Tehran. The history of this ancient city can be traced back to Neolithic times. Today Shiraz is considered to be the dominant market city of southwest Iran. Reputed to produce some of the finest Persian wool rugs on the market today, Shiraz is considered one of the most important cities for the weaving of wool rugs anywhere in the world. The weavers are truly skilled artisans who ply their craft using a horizontal loom and both Persian and Turkish knots with an approximate density of 100 KPSI (knots per square inch).
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Shiraz personifies Malivoire's founding philosophy: that excellence as a winery begins with healthy soil and vines, and depends on minimal human manipulation of the fruit and its wine. He respects each vintage as a unique event and allows this to influence his methods. He wants any given wine to stand out from its past and future vintages, reflecting the year in which it was grown. Shiraz ... believes that the Niagara Peninsula, as a young wine region is still defining its terroir. He is determined that his wines, with each succeeding vintage, will contribute to that definition.
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The Shiraz grape was introduced to Australia in 1832 by James Bushby who brought in vines of several varieties from Europe. By 1844 Shiraz was a recommended variety for Australia in Sir William Macarthur's Letters based on his own research and experience. For at least its first hundred years in Australia, Shiraz was used as a 'field blend' variety and not vinified separately. It's late blooming nature suited the warmer growing conditions found in Australia. In Australia, Shiraz has found a real home. The Shiraz grape is the most widely planted red grape variety in Australia where it is sometimes blended with Cabernet Sauvignon or occasionally with Mourvedre.
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Shiraz is known as the poetic capital of Persia, because two of the greatest poets of the world, Hafez (1324-1391) and Sa'di (1209-1291), come from this city. Sa'di, the traveler saw a great part of the world before he finally settled in Shiraz, where he died. Hafez on the other hand, except for one very short journey, never even left his city.
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Shiraz