Petite Sirah

The petite sirah grape creates a rich red wine. The petite sirah grape is separate from the sirah / shiraz grape even though the names are similar. The petite sirah grape is descended from the Duriff Rhone grape of France. For most of its history, petite sirah was only used to blend into other wines. The grape gained a lot of attention in the 1970s because of the general red wine push, and because of its full, tannic taste.

Petite Sirah is predominantly planted in California, where it does well. Petites are anything but petite - they tend to be big, strong, muscular, and, well, purple.

Typical flavors include plum, raspberry, blackberries, and black pepper. The wine tends to go well with stronger meats - game, beef, lamb, and spicy sauces. Petite Sirah can be drunk fresh from the bottle or aged for a more mellow flavor - its high tannin content makes long aging worthwhile. It should be served at around 59F.

Wine Types Main Listing