What Is Petite Sirah?

     One evening recently I was enjoying a delightful Carmen Petite Sirah from Chili and realized I didn’t know much about this grape at all. So I decided it was time to learn more about this grape.

 

     This grape has grown in California since the late 19th century. The origin of its name is uncertain, but some believe it got the name Petite Syrah because of the small grape size and the fact that it otherwise looked similar to the Syrah grape. This grape often times grew in fields with other varietals and until DNA testing became available in late 90s its origin was a bit of a mystery. Through DNA testing, Dr. Carol Meredith of UC Davis was able to establish that most of the Petite Syrah grown in California was a grape from France named Durif. Durif is a grape that was developed by Dr. Francois Durif in the 1880s. It is a blend of Syrah and Peloursin (an ancient French grape) with both grapes originating from the Rhone region of France. The Durif grape was less susceptible to mildew, which was a problem for the Syrah grape in France. However, the grape never became popular in France, and there is little of it left there today. Over time Petite Sirah was often used as a blending grape. It added density, spice and color to red blends. Starting in the 1960’s it began being bottled as a stand-alone varietal. In this country and others there are multiple accepted spellings of this grape; Petite Sirah, Petite Syrah, Petit Sirah, and Petit Syrah.

     What should you expect when tasting a Petite Sirah? Petite Sirah wine tends to be a big and bold wine, with a high amount of tannins. The color is distinctive; an inky, black-purple color. It is known for its big fruit flavors of plum, raspberry, and blackberries. It is often times described as spicy-don’t be surprised if you pick up black pepper, smoke or cloves on the nose. Because of the high tannin content you would want to pair this wine with food that can stand up to it-like a juicy grilled steak with a high fat content. It also goes well with BBQ and hamburgers!

     As the production of Petite Sirah continues to grow in this country you will see more of it on your store shelves. Some names to look for are Stag’s Leap Winery, Ridge, Bogle, Girard and Concannon. If you haven’t tried a Petite Sirah, give one a chance soon. Chilly winter nights seem like a perfect time to try this bold red!

 

Cheers,

Beth

Wine Word of the Week

 

Vitis vinifera: The grape species that is used in most countries in the world for winemaking. The major wine grapes that come from this species include: Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfindel, and Syrah.