Found primarily in California, Petite Sirah makes big, rich wines showing lots of pepper and spice overlaid by dense black fruit with plenty of tannin. Its opaque, inky purple and black color makes it a useful blending agent to increase depth of color in Zinfandel. Petite Sirah’s high tannin and sometimes inert nature allows it to age easily, in some cases for a couple of decades. That said, many producers are learning how to temper the chewy tannins and are making more approachable wine for near term drinking. Its identity is still somewhat a mystery with DNA tests showing similarities between the southern French varietal Durif, Syrah, Peloursin, an obscure Rhone varietal, and a Peloursin Durif crossing.
California is one of the most diverse wine producing regions of the world. Although it has a history spanning over 200 years, it has experienced most of its growth in the last fifty years. The regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma County have become as renowned as France’s Bordeaux and Burgundy. While Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay are by far the most popular fine wine varieties, producers in the Golden State have also experimented with an unparalleled array of diverse varieties, including Zinfandel, Syrah, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo.
