While dining at a nearby restaurant, I was perusing the wine list when I came across a Petite Sirah. I like red wine, especially in the winter, but my go to is a Pinot Noir or sometimes when I’m in the mood, a Cabernet Sauvignon. But this night, I decided to try something new, something outside the norm (at least for me). I ordered a Petite Sirah from California.

The bartender brought over a dark purple, opaque wine that really piqued my interest.

At first sight it was deep, dark, and mysterious. Perfect for a chilly night with a hint of intrigue in the air. Next, I inhaled deeply to try and smell every nuance this wine had to offer. Honestly, it smelled amazing and delicious! Lots of deep blackberry/blueberry notes with some smoky spice, and black pepper. Just the kind of wine I was hoping for tonight. Upon tasting this dark elixir, I found it to be quite tannic and bold but very enjoyable. It was the perfect pairing to my dinner selection of beef. With a bold wine like this, it will pair perfectly with red meat (beef or pork), burgers (especially with sauteed mushrooms), or a spicy chicken dish. To pair with cheese, think Smoked Gouda!

Let’s learn a bit more about this wine varietal. The history of this grape will take us to France in 1880 where the French botanist, Francois Durif crossed two varieties of grapes, Syrah and the much lesser known, Peloursin. The resulting new varietal was called Durif, named after the inventor. It was later brought to America (in the mid 1880’s) and the name was changed to Petite Sirah. Thus, named because the berries were quite small and tightly bunched together. Petite Sirah was grown in California where it became quite popular until its fame was overshadowed by the strong interest in growing Cabernet Sauvignon…especially in the Napa Valley. Today, Petite Sirah has once again gained popularity and is grown in several areas of California including the Napa, Sonoma, and Lodi AVAs. It has become a favorite in Australia also.

If you are in search of a bold, fruity, powerful red wine, try a Petite Sirah. It can be aged for 10 years or more. So, if you find one you like, put it in your cellar and taste it in a few years. It will have mellowed a bit from the high tannic wine you first tried. Also, this is a wine that should be decanted, if possible, for 2-4 hours. I’m not sure how many of you can wait 2-4 hours to drink your wine but this will definitely smooth it out. Serve Petite Sirah at about 65 degrees F to bring out the flavors and aromas.

If you are money conscious, and who isn’t right now, Petite Sirah is fairly reasonably priced. You can get a nice bottle for $12-25 with some older bottles up to $40. Check at your local wine shop to see what they have available. Petite Sirah is definitely a wine to try. Who knows, you may have discovered a new favorite!

Cheers!