WINE BASICS:

Grape in the spotlight:

petitE sirah

All About Petite Sirah

Petite Sirah, sometimes called Durif after Dr. Francois Durif, is a small-berried grape that produces structured and tannic wines. French botanist, Dr. Durif accidentally created this grape variety when he was running experiments aimed at developing resistance of powdery mildew in Syrah. In his lab, adjacent Syrah and Peloursin (a lesser-known vitis vinifera species) cross-pollinated and left behind Petite Sirah. Since its creation in France, it has actually fallen out of favor there locally, but has had more success in the United States, Australia and to a lesser degree, in Israel, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico.

Petite Sirah is at the far end of the spectrum – a high-polyphenol wine with natural bitterness that creates a mouth-drying sensation; however, it also has a dose of bright acidity. In many cases, Petite Sirah is used in blends, because it contributes to the power and mouthfeel of a wine, but some known winemakers and vineyards (like Stag’s Leap) have engaged in single varietal wines. And by the way, Stag’s Leap Petite Sirah is a fraction of the price of their Cabernet Sauvignon.

Petite Sirah possesses blue and black fruits, namely plum, along with elements of spice and licorice. It shares similar black pepper notes as its parent grape, Syrah. It has great aging potential, much like other tannin-heavy, polyphenol-packed favorites like Tannat and Sagrantino.

Join our Newsletter!Love Wine? Love Learning? Love Deals?

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss the latest updates to our portfolio or exclusive offers.