Petite Sirah Wine
IN THE BOTTLE
Our Petite Sirah comes from Lodi, an area to the south of Sacramento in California's Central Valley. Intensely purple, almost inky in color, with rich, dark fruits: blackberry and black plum, along with aromas of pepper, black olive, and smoke. The palate reveals firm tannins and a full body, with a mocha spiced finish.
CLASSIC FLAVOR PROFILES OF VARIETAL
Petite Sirah is known for its smokey, dark berry and plum notes and shows off a mix of dark chocolate, coffee, and spices. Firm tannins are a hallmark of the grape, coming from its thick skins.
VARIETAL FACTS
Petite Sirah is "petite" because its berries are smaller than most. It became popular during Prohibition because its thick, durable skins made it ideal for shipping. Home winemakers across the country would buy grapes like Petite Sirah from California in bulk, have them sent by rail to their homes, then make their own wine.
HISTORY
The original name for Petite Sirah is Durif, named after the botanist Francois Durif, who discovered the vine in his experimental vineyards in France in the 1860s. Although never popular in France, it was imported to the United States in the 1880s and became widely planted under the name Petite Sirah. By Prohibition it was the most planted grape in California, and it still held that title into the 1970s, after which (you guessed it) Cabernet Sauvignon became king.
DID YOU KNOW?
The peppery note in Petite Sirah comes from rotundone, a chemical in the terpene family, a group of highly aromatic compounds found in plants. Aromas like the roses and lychee in Gewürztraminer come from terpenes. Zinfandel, Syrah/Shiraz, and Petite Sirah all have elevated levels of rotundone which smells distinctly peppery.
IF YOU LIKE THIS WINE, TRY:
Australian Shiraz, Zinfandel
Standard Bottle 750 ml
Please note: An adult signature is required for the final delivery of any wine shipment.
