There’s Nothing “Petite” About Petite Sirah
Despite its name, Petite Sirah is neither a “little” wine nor the same as Syrah. It’s a bit confusing, but once you get the wine that’s produced from the Petite Sirah grape into your glass, none of that will matter: Petite Sirah wine is some of the most overtly delicious red wine around.
What is Petite Sirah?
Petite Sirah is the name of a grape variety as well as the wine that’s produced from it. It is often spelled Petit Sirah, but that’s not correct: The proper spelling is Petite Sirah. The grape also goes by the name Durif, which is how it’s referred to in France, where it’s originally from. Petite Sirah is delicious on its own and is also an important component in some of the great red blends of the world.
What grape is Petite Sirah made from?
Wine labeled as Petite Sirah is made from the grape of the same name. The Petite Sirah grape also goes by the name Durif.
What wine is Petite Sirah known for?
Though originally from France, Petite Sirah has really made a name for itself in California, where it is often either bottled on its own or blended with other rich grape varieties in places like Lodi, and as a small component in Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends in and around Napa Valley.
What does Petite Sirah taste like?
Petite Sirah wine is rich and generous, often bursting with blue fruit, spice, and occasional coffee notes that add depth and deliciousness to blends. Its dark color is also an important part of its appeal.
What is the difference between a Syrah and Petite Sirah?
Petite Sirah and Syrah are two different grape varieties, but they are related. Petite Sirah is the result of a crossing between Syrah and Peloursin. In terms of flavor, Petite Sirah is more anchored by its generous fruit and sweet spice, whereas Syrah can often possess a meaty, subtly smoky undertone to its fruit. Also, Syrah is far more widely planted around the world than Petite Sirah.
Why is it called Petite Sirah?
The name was initially given to the new variety that resulted from the crossing between Syrah and Peloursin because the individual grapes in each bunch of Petite Sirah were on the small side. Sometimes, the wine world is more straightforward than expected!
What temperature do you serve Petite Sirah?
Petite Sirah is best served at slightly lower than room temperature. If it’s served too warm, then the alcohol will be too prominent and the fruit will taste stewed. If it’s served too cold, then the tannins will feel gritty and the fruit won’t be expressive enough. Somewhere around 67 or 68 degrees Fahrenheit should work well for enjoying the range of flavors and aromas of a Petite Sirah wine.
How long can you age Petite Sirah?
Petite Sirah has the potential to age for several years in many instances. However, so much of its pleasure is about the exuberance of fruit and sweet spice, so aging it for too long may actually diminish its pleasures. Just because you can age a wine doesn’t mean you necessarily should!
How long does Petite Sirah last after opening?
If you place the cork back in the bottle, and place the bottle in the refrigerator, you should be okay for approximately two days. However, using a wine preservation device like the VacuVin will allow you to continue to enjoy the wine for three days or so. Just remember to remove it from the fridge long enough before pouring a glass so that you don’t have cold Petite Sirah, which is no fun at all.
Does Petite Sirah need to breathe?
Like the vast majority of tannic red wines, allowing your Petite Sirah to breathe is a great idea. Whether you decant the bottle or simply pour a glass and vigorously swirl the wine inside it, introducing oxygen to the wine will help open it up and more fully express the range of pleasures it can so deliciously provide.
Is Petite Sirah dry or sweet?
Petite Sirah is almost always produced in a dry style, but the exuberance of its fruit, especially when grown in a warm climate and aged in new oak barrels, can often lead to the impression of a certain amount of ripe fruity sweetness. But even in that case, it does not taste like a sweet wine.
What are popular producers of Petite Sirah?
There are many popular producers of Petite Sirah, including Michael David Winery, Stags Leap, Bogle Vineyards, McManis, Spellbound, Caymus, Shannon Ridge, Concannon, Parducci, and J Lohr, among others.
Browse our full selection of Petite Sirah wine online or check out our selection of highly rated Petite Sirah wine for a great new Petite Sirah wine to try this week!
Want to learn more about Petite Sirah wine?
Visit our Guide to Petite Sirah wine to learn more about Petite Sirah wine.