Petite Sirah
Black-skinned, from France
Petite Sirah is Durif, a dark French crossing of Peloursin and Syrah grown for dense, tannic reds.
Also known as
Durif, Petite Syrah
Petite Sirah is the same variety as Durif, also called Petite Syrah; the French botanist Francois Durif found it in his nursery in Tullins in the 1860s. DNA work at UC Davis showed it is a crossing (two Vitis vinifera parents) of Peloursin and most likely Syrah, making Durif a seedling of Peloursin pollinated by Syrah.
The variety now thrives mainly in California and Australia, with important plantings in Israel and smaller amounts in Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Washington State, and Texas. California acreage is spread across Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake County, the Sierra Foothills, and the Central Valley, with no single defining region.
The grapes have thick skins and a low juice yield, so wines are dark, inky, very tannic, and ageable. Common flavours include plum, blueberry, black pepper, and spice; it appears both as a single-varietal wine and as a blending component with Zinfandel, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, and others.
Where to taste Petite Sirah
386 wineries pour it, under any of its names.
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