Petite Syrah

Petite Syrah

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Petite Sirah should be more popular than it is. After all, it checks so many of the boxes that American consumers often look for in a red wine: It tends to display ripe, rich fruit, leans toward the more powerful end of the spectrum, and its spice notes allow it to pair with a wide range of foods. Petite Sirah also plays well in the proverbial sandbox with other grape varieties, often lending blends greater depth of color and an undertow of richness. Despite the fact that even the best examples rarely cost a fortune, it flies relatively under the radar –– but this grape variety has the potential to offer profound, joyous pleasure.

Petite Sirah is a red wine produced from the grape of the same name. Interestingly, it's not the same grape variety as Syrah, with which it's often conflated. Petite Sirah is actually the same as the Durif grape variety of France, which is the result of a crossing between Syrah and a local grape variety called Peloursin. In practical terms, this effectively means that Syrah and Peloursin are the "parent" varieties of Petite Sirah.

The origins of the Petite Sirah grape can be traced back to southeastern France, where it is known as Durif. Despite its roots, Petite Sirah reaches its most well-known heights in California; The grape shines in the Central Coast , where it is often blended with Zinfandel ; in Temecula Valley ; and Livermore Valley, where producers like Dante Robere and Concannon produce notable examples. There are also top-quality producers of Petite Sirah in Napa Valley and Sonoma, including Gehricke, Girard, and Ovid. The Prisoner also includes it in its famous namesake blend, and Petite Sirah plays a role in the blend for the Orin Swift Eight Years in the Desert red. Excellent Petite Sirah can also be found in Washington State and Australia, too.

Petite Sirah offers dramatic aromas and flavors that makes wines produced from it just as enjoyable when sipped on their own as with food. In the summer, Petite Sirah and blends that incorporate it tend to pair well with barbecue, and in winter, the richness and depth of flavor in those bottles make them comforting and warming on a cold, dark night. Petite Sirah also will fit any budget: Delicious ones can be found for under $25, and pricier options are also available, many of them capable of aging for an extended period of time. As is generally the case, the bottles that are best able to evolve in the cellar tend to be less giving in their youth, and often need time for the tannins to soften. If you do want to enjoy these particular bottles early, either decant them or pair them with foods that are high in protein and rich with some fat.

Petite Sirah can work wonders in a blend. Many producers use it, even in unnamed capacities, to lend darker color and greater richness to wines that are labeled as being produced from other grape varieties. Remember, in the United States, a wine only has to be made from 75% of a single grape variety to be called that grape on the label. For example, a bottle that's labeled as Zinfandel can have up to 25% of other grape varieties in there –– Petite Sirah is not uncommon in that role.

Petite Sirah tends to show deep, dark, rich fruit like plums, blackberries, and occasionally blueberries and cherries. Sweet spice notes (especially if the wine has been aged in new oak) like vanilla, cinnamon, and clove can also be discerned. Hints of black tea and cigar tobacco are not uncommon, especially if the wine has a bit of age to it. Sometimes, candied violets may be present, too. Petite Sirah is relatively tannic, but the texture of those tannins varies with location, producer, and vintage.

Given that Petite Sirah tends to be rich with a higher content of alcohol, it's important to enjoy it at the right temperature. Drink it too warm, and it will likely come off as boozy with cooked or stewed fruit. A quick stint in the fridge will work wonders, but don't drink it chilled –– otherwise, you'll risk running into tannins that seem woody and astringent. Enjoying Petite Sirah from a Syrah , Cabernet Sauvignon , or universal-style glass is a smart move, while sipping it from the more dramatically triangular bowl of a Pinot Noir glass may amplify the alcohol, throwing its balance off.

There are countless great Petite Sirah wines and blends on the market today. These five producers, listed alphabetically, are a perfect way to start exploring all that Petite Sirah has to offer.

One of the legendary producers of Israel, Carmel has been a leader in Israeli wines since it was founded by Baron Edmond de Rothschild in 1882. Among a wide range of other wines, their Old Vines Petite Sirah, from the Judean Hills, is a ripe, rich red whose plum and dark-berry fruit find fantastic counterpoints in sweet spice.

This excellent Temecula Valley producer offers a fantastic range of well-crafted wines, including Malbec , Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, and more. Their Petite Sirah Reserve 2018, the first vintage of this wine, is a generous, dramatic red wine, gushing with ripe plums and blackberries, baking spices, and toasty vanilla.

Foppiano Vineyards has been one of the most important producers of Petite Sirah in California for a long time. They're based in the Russian River Valley, which, while far more well-known for Pinot Noir, is also capable of growing excellent Petite Sirah, too. The 2016 is in a great place right now, its plush yet still-assertive tannins lending its plum and kirsch flavors serious structure. This wine proves how elegantly Petite Sirah can age.

Ridge has been a key player in the evolution and success of California's wine industry for a long time –– 2022 is actually their 60th anniversary. From the iconic Monte Bello to their terrific Lytton Estate Petite Sirah and even a standout Grenache Blanc, they seemingly do it all. The 2020 Geyserville brings together 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane , 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouchet, and 1% Mataro, and is everything you'd want a blend like this to be: Generous and ripe yet with excellent structure and length, and shimmering with blackberries, mouthwatering cranberries, ancho-spiced dark chocolate, and a long, mineral- and baking spice-flecked finish.

Mettler was established over a century ago, and even today their reds continue to show the potential of Lodi. The 2018 vintage is still defined by its purple fruit and crushed blueberries, but there is a hint of orange oil, sarsaparilla, and candied violets peeking through. This is one for the cellar, or your next barbecue.

Petite Sirah is loved for its deeply colored wines with rich black fruit flavors and bold tannins. The grape related to Syrah and the rare French grape, Peloursin. The French call it “Durif” but this wine is rare outside of California.
Given the wines sometimes aggressive tannins, Petite Sirah will do well matched with fat and umami – be it steaks from the grill or a plate of beef stroganoff.
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If you’re ready to invest in more wine for your growing collection, or are eager to introduce intriguing yet classy varietals, you’ve likely scoured numerous avenues in your quest. You might have narrowed in on wines from California, having discovered and then sampled high-quality bottles of Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. You’ve likely seen interesting bottles of California Syrah, Riesling and Petit Verdot, and may have even explored niche markets for Semillon and Viognier from the Golden State.
A different California varietal equally worthy of adding to your wine cellar collection, though, is none other than Petite Sirah.
Petite Sirah wine comes from the Petite Sirah grape, a dark-skinned beauty that grows in dense clusters on the vine. This grape is small in size but big in flavor.
Petite Sirah's bold flavor comes from the high skin-to-juice ratio of the grape, which produces an inky black-purple wine with high tannins and high acidity.
The Petite Sirah grape is the offspring of two French grapes – Syrah and Peloursin. Both of the parent varietals come from the Rhone-Alpes region, while Petite Sirah originated further south near Tullins in southeastern France.
In France and elsewhere outside of the United States, Petite Sirah is known as Durif. This name comes from Francois Durif, the French botanist in whose nursery the varietal originated in the 1860s.
This varietal has been in California since 1884, when Charles McIver introduced it to his vineyards in the San Jose/Alameda County area . It waxed and waned over the years, falling out of favor in certain areas but holding true in places like Napa Valley and Livermore AVA.
Other than California, there are a few wineries in Israel and Australia with Petite Sirah vineyards. But while it may have originated in France, modern Petite Sirah production in France is almost nonexistent.
Historically, Petite Sirah has acted as a supportive wine rather than as the standout star. For years it was relegated to the role of assistant in Zinfandel blends , and occasionally provided bolder tannins and color in weaker Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir vintages.
While Petite Sirah continues this tradition today, it has earned a place as its own varietal. California produces numerous 100 percent Petite Sirah wines, along with blends where 85 to 90 percent of the wine is comprised of this inky purple star.
Although Petite Sirah and Syrah have similar spellings, they aren’t different versions of the same wine. These two wines are different varietals altogether.
Syrah is its own distinct varietal, having appeared as the offspring of the uncommon Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche hundreds of years ago in France’s Savoy and Rhone Valley. Its grapes are slightly smaller than average, with a dark skin and a red-purple color in the glass. Syrah wines have moderately high tannins and moderate acidity.
Compared to Syrah, Petite Sirah grapes are quite small, and are deeper in color. They produce a dark purple, tooth-staining wine with bold tannins and acidity.
As mentioned earlier, Petite Sirah may be a small grape, but its flavor is anything but small. A good description of Petite Sirah wine would be: big, bold and memorable. This wine has a full body and a mouthfeel that is often described as chewy and intense.
Petite Sirah offers up flavor notes rich in plums and smoky, dark-berried fruits . It also releases a heady mix of spices, dark chocolate, caramel, licorice and coffee.
In warmer California climates, Petite Sirah has bolder fruits and typically more alcohol, while cooler California climates lead to a Petite Sirah with slightly sour fruits, more earthy flavors and hints of citrus.
Unlike other wines that turn out well in some regions and fall flat in others, Petite Sirah has the blessing of excellent base qualities that result in solid ratings across the board.
Here are the five main California regions producing Petite Sirah:
Known for its warmer, drier climate that occasionally receives cooling delta breezes, the Central Valley produces bold, jammy Petite Sirah wines. You’ll see wines from Lodi and Clarksburg praised for their consistent quality and affordable price.
The North Coast has cooler temperatures but plenty of sunny days that bring out Petite Sirah’s inherent richness. As a result, Petite Sirah wines have more of an earthy profile, along with florals and deep, bold fruits.
North Valley wines are typically considered to be at the top of their class for complexity. This is also where you can find most of the oldest Petite Sirah vines. Petite Sirah wines from the North Valley tend to have enhanced minerals and excellent balance.
This region varies from sheltered, warmer climate AVAs like Paso Robles to cooler climate, low rainfall AVAs like Santa Barbara. Petite Sirah wines from the Central Coast are often deeply fruity, with intense aromas and strong balance.
This extensive region has warm, sunny days but decidedly cool nights, allowing for more drawn-out ripening. Petite Sirah wines from the Sierra Foothills have bold, concentrated flavors and good complexity.
As an intense wine, Petite Sirah needs to be paired with richer, more aromatic foods . Trying to pair this wine with a lighter meal results in mismatched tastes and drowned flavors.
Meats: Venison, lamb, ribs, roasted or barbecued pork and beef, glazed ham, chicken with bold, creamy sauces
Cheeses: Blue cheese, aged goat cheese, Gouda, Limburger, asiago
Vegetables: Leeks, garlic, olives, cruciferous vegetables, root vegetables, mushrooms
Herbs and Spices: Cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, fennel, chile pepper, juniper, rosemary
Chocolate: Dark chocolate, typically 75 percent or higher
To discover Petite Sirah for yourself, we encourage you to see what JJ Buckley Fine Wines has on offer. Our collection of Petite Sirah wines can set you up for many delicious meals to come.
© JJ Buckley Fine Wines , 7307 Edgewater Drive, Suite J, Oakland, CA 94621 – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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